Time Change Act

Summary#

• This bill would make the federal government hold a Canada-wide conference on time change (like daylight saving time). The goal is to get provinces, Indigenous governments, and experts on the same page and to share evidence.

• A public report with the conference’s findings and recommendations must be posted online.

• Key points:

  • Within one year of the law taking effect, a federal minister must host the conference to promote cooperation among governments.
  • Topics include the main issues around changing clocks, the economic impacts, and scientific studies on health, safety, and productivity.
  • The agenda also covers whether Canada should move toward a more uniform approach to time across provinces and territories.
  • Invitees include provincial officials, Indigenous governing bodies, health scientists, and representatives from cities and sectors like public safety, farming, education, child care, and elder care.
  • Within six months after the conference, the minister must publish a report online with information and recommendations from the discussions.

What it means for you#

• General public
  • Your clocks would not change because of this bill. It creates a meeting and a report, not a new time policy.
  • You would be able to read the conference report online when it is released.
• Workers and businesses
  • No immediate changes to work hours, travel schedules, or cross-border coordination.
  • If the conference builds agreement on a more uniform time system, future changes could be proposed later by governments. Those would require separate laws.
• Parents, students, and caregivers
  • No direct change to school or child care schedules now.
  • The conference will review research on sleep, safety, and productivity that could inform any future decisions by provinces or the federal government.
• Indigenous communities
  • Indigenous governing bodies would be invited to participate and share perspectives on time practices and local impacts.
• Local governments and sectors (public safety, agriculture, education, early childhood care, eldercare)
  • Sector representatives would be invited to share practical impacts (for example, on farm work, bus schedules, and shift work).

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• A national meeting can help provinces and Indigenous governments coordinate, so fewer regions are out of sync with each other.
• Bringing in scientists and sector experts ensures decisions are based on evidence about health, safety, and productivity.
• A public report increases transparency and gives Canadians a clear picture of pros, cons, and options.
• The approach respects provincial roles by consulting rather than imposing rules.
• Better coordination could reduce confusion for travel, business, broadcasting, and cross-border trade.

Opponents' View#

• It may be seen as symbolic or duplicative, since research on daylight saving time already exists.
• Time rules are mainly a provincial matter; some may view a federal-led conference as unnecessary or intrusive.
• Organizing a national conference and report takes time and resources that might not lead to real change.
• Different regional needs (for example, daylight hours in northern vs. southern areas) may make a “uniform” approach unrealistic.