Summary#

This bill, the Time Change Act, requires the federal government to hold a pan-Canadian conference on time change and to publish a report with the conference’s information and recommendations. It aims to promote cooperation among federal, provincial, and Indigenous partners on issues like health, safety, productivity, and economic impacts of time change. It does not change time zones or daylight saving rules.

• Requires a national conference within 1 year of the Act coming into force (Bill §4(1)).
• Sets an agenda on economic issues, scientific studies on health, safety, productivity, and whether Canada could adopt a more uniform approach (Bill §4(2)).
• Requires invitations to provinces, Indigenous governing bodies, and stakeholders from health, municipal, public safety, agriculture, education, early childhood care, and eldercare sectors (Bill §4(3)).
• Requires a public report within 6 months after the conference, posted online, with information and recommendations (Bill §5(1)–(2)).
• Lets Cabinet designate a Minister to run the process (Bill §3).
• Makes no direct changes to clocks, time zones, or daylight saving time.

What it means for you#

• Households

  • No immediate change to when you change your clocks. The Act only requires a meeting and a report (Bill §4–5).
  • You will be able to read the conference report online within 6 months after the conference (Bill §5(1)).

• Workers and students

  • No direct change to schedules. Any future change would require separate laws or regulations. This Act only sets up discussion and recommendations (Bill §4–5).
  • Health and safety effects of time change are part of the agenda, so evidence on sleep, accidents, and productivity will be reviewed (Bill §4(2)(b)).

• Businesses

  • No immediate operational changes. The conference will review economic issues tied to time change, such as coordination across provinces and with trading partners (Bill §4(2)(a)).
  • Relevant sectors may be invited to participate through stakeholder channels listed in the Act (Bill §4(3)(c)).

• Provincial and municipal governments

  • Provincial representatives must be invited; municipal representatives are among the stakeholders to be invited (Bill §4(3)(a), (c)).
  • Attendance is not mandated by the Act. The purpose is to promote cooperation, not to impose rules (Bill §4(1)).

• Indigenous governing bodies

  • Must be invited to the conference and can provide input that reflects rights and community needs (Bill §2, §4(3)(b)).

• Researchers and health scientists

  • May be invited to present scientific studies on health, safety, and productivity related to time change (Bill §4(2)(b), §4(3)(c)).

• Timeline

  • Conference: within 1 year after the Act comes into force (Bill §4(1)).
  • Public report: within 6 months after the conference (Bill §5(1)).

Expenses#

Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• The bill contains no explicit funding, appropriations, fees, or fines (Bill §1–5).
• It requires the government to organize a conference and publish a report, which will entail some administrative and event costs; the bill does not state amounts (Bill §4–5).
• No fiscal note or official cost estimate identified. Data unavailable.

Proponents' View#

• Creates a formal, time-bound forum to align provinces, Indigenous governing bodies, and key sectors on time change, which can reduce fragmentation (Bill §4(1), §4(3)).
• Grounds the discussion in science and economics by requiring agenda items on health, safety, productivity, and economic issues (Bill §4(2)(a)–(b)).
• Explores a more uniform national approach while respecting provincial roles by focusing on cooperation, not compulsion (Bill §4(1), §4(2)(c)).
• Improves transparency and public access by requiring an online report with information and recommendations within a set deadline (Bill §5(1)–(2)).
• Limits scope and risk: it does not change time laws, only convenes stakeholders and reports findings (Bill §4–5).

Opponents' View#

• No binding outcome: the Act mandates a conference and a report, but not adoption of any recommendations, so it may produce costs without policy change (Bill §5(2)).
• Soft accountability: the Governor in Council “may” designate a Minister (not “must”), and the Act includes no penalties if deadlines are missed (Bill §3, §4–5). Assumes compliance will occur without enforcement.
• Duplicative effort: provinces already manage many time-related decisions; an added federal conference could overlap with existing provincial processes. Assumes existing coordination mechanisms can meet needs.
• Participation burden: inviting many sectors and governments may strain capacity for smaller jurisdictions and stakeholders to engage. Assumes broad participation will be sought in practice (Bill §4(3)).
• Uniformity risks: pushing for a “more uniform approach” could pressure regions with unique economic or social needs, even if the Act itself does not force changes (Bill §4(2)(c)). Assumes future policy discussions may favor harmonization.