Saskatchewan to update time zone legislation after Alberta decision

The dome of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building is seen in this file image. (Brendan Ellis/CTV News)

The Government of Saskatchewan is replacing its time zone legislation after Alberta’s decision to switch to Central Standard Time (CST).

Before The Time Act was passed in 1966, Saskatchewan was made up of a patchwork of local time standards, according to the province. The legislation standardized CST for much of the province, while allowing certain areas to hold votes to change their time.

One of these areas was Lloydminster, which currently switches over to Mountain Time during wintertime to align with Alberta. The Time Act, 2026 will make sure legislation reflects current practices while keeping flexibility for future changes made by neighbouring provinces.

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“While our residents have long been used to running on ‘Lloydminster time’, the differing provincial time zones often prove a little tricky for those visiting our city for work and pleasure,” Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers said in the announcement.

“We welcome an updated Time Act that reflects how our border community functions day-to-day. No time travel required."