Bill would make daylight saving time permanent

Summary#

Bill 174, Ditch the Switch Act, 2020, would amend Ontario’s Time Act. Its stated goal is to make the time now called daylight saving time the standard time year-round.

  • The bill changes two numbers in the Time Act and repeals three subsections. The parent Act was not supplied, so the exact effect of those edits cannot be checked against the Act’s full text.
  • As described in the bill’s explanatory note, the change would keep Ontario on the time now called daylight saving time throughout the year, rather than switching between standard time and daylight saving time.
  • The bill would take effect on the later of November 1, 2020, and the day it receives Royal Assent.

What it means for you#

  • People in Ontario: If the bill took effect as described, the time of day used in Ontario would remain on what is now called daylight saving time year-round.
  • Businesses and public services: Their clocks and schedules could be affected by the change. The bill does not set out a process for making those adjustments.
  • Everyone: The bill amends an existing law. It does not create a new office, benefit, tax, fee, fine, or enforcement power.

Money#

No publicly available information on the bill’s costs or savings.

  • The supplied material gives no estimate of public spending, business costs, or savings.

What is unclear#

  • The parent Time Act was not supplied, so the bill’s specific wording changes and their full effect under current law could not be verified.
  • The bill does not explain how the change would be coordinated with other jurisdictions or how affected schedules and systems would be adjusted.
  • The supplied material does not state whether the bill passed or received Royal Assent.

Case for#

  • A possible argument for the bill is that one time standard year-round would end the seasonal clock switch described in the explanatory note.
  • A single year-round standard could make timekeeping more consistent within Ontario. This is a possible benefit, not a result guaranteed by the bill.

Case against#

  • The bill does not explain how Ontario’s change would be coordinated with other jurisdictions, or what that could mean for people and organizations whose schedules cross provincial or other borders.
  • The bill sets an effective date but does not provide details about how affected businesses, services, or the public would be informed or prepared.