While the rest of the country loses an hour of sleep, here in Saskatchewan, as well as Yukon and parts of British Columbia, the clocks will be remaining the same. It is the time of year when daylight savings time takes effect. 

While the issue has often been a source of debate along coffee row in Saskatchewan, daylight savings time hasn’t been implemented in Saskatchewan, with the whole province (Lloydminster excepted) observing Central Standard Time since 1972. The idea of a referendum on whether Saskatchewan should adopt daylight savings was floated in 2011, but nothing came of it at that time. 

Now, while the debate happens from time to time in Saskatchewan on whether to take on daylight savings time, which would mean moving the clocks ahead by an hour in the spring and back in the fall, other jurisdictions are considering dropping it entirely. 

In British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, proposals have been put forward by lawmakers to abolish the practice of moving the clocks. There is a catch with the proposals, though. They would want neighbouring provinces and U.S. states to do the same. 

There are some arguments for why it is beneficial for getting rid of daylight savings time. Sleep experts have noted there is evidence of higher fatal car accidents, heart attacks and strokes in the days after the transition. They also point out that the loss of an hour’s sleep can also have an impact on mental health as well.