‘We cannot wait anymore’: Premier urges U.S. governors to join B.C. in daylight time change

After B.C.’s decision to stop twice-yearly time changes before a similar move is made south of the border, the premier is asking U.S. officials to get on board.

British Columbia’s premier is calling on his counterparts in the western United States to join the province in adopting year-round daylight time.

Premier David Eby in a letter to the governors of Washington, Oregon and California on Tuesday said the province remains economically and culturally entwined with the American states and those ties would be improved by a unified time zone.

Eby announced on Monday that the province would end the seasonal time change after turning clocks forward by an hour one last time on March 8.

“British Columbians have been clear that seasonal time changes do not work for them,” Eby told reporters in Victoria, saying the decision is meant to make life easier for families and reduce seasonal disruptions to business and the wider economy.

The premier’s letter, which was emailed to governors Bob Ferguson, Tina Kotek and Gavin Newsom, and copied to more than 70 other state officials and representatives, recalled how the previous B.C. NDP government planned to implement the time change legislation in 2019 but held off as the western states mulled a similar move.

“In the years since, the situation has changed and today we need to make decisions that are in the best interests of British Columbians,” Eby wrote. “Permanent, year-round daylight saving time will improve people’s overall health, reduce disruptions for families, simplify scheduling and provide an extra hour of evening light during the winter months.”

The premier acknowledged there was little the states could do however without a legal authorization from the U.S. Congress. Eby’s predecessor, former premier John Horgan, blamed a Congress “gridlocked” by presidential impeachment inquiries for failing to fully consider the time change initiative in 2019.

• ‘Blame the United States’: B.C. to stick with seasonal time changes in 2019

“We cannot wait anymore and we are moving forward,” Eby wrote to the state officials.

“Despite the trade challenges before us, our Cascadia region remains deeply integrated through tourism, trade and transportation, and we value you as close neighbours and friends,” the premier added.

“Therefore, I urge you to join British Columbia in ending the time change and advocate for the authorization from the U.S. Congress.”

Representatives for the three states did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter from CTV News.

When B.C. transitions to the new Pacific time zone—as opposed to the current alternating Pacific standard and Pacific daylight zones—it will align with the Yukon’s existing zone, and will match Alberta’s Mountain time zone from November to March.

The time change means that the sun will not rise during the darkest days of winter in Victoria and Vancouver until shortly after 9 a.m. Meanwhile, in the province’s northern regions, the December sunrise will come closer to 9:30 a.m.

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