Ontario premier says province could drop seasonal clock changes if neighboring regions agree
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Doug Ford says Ontario may finally end the twice-a-year clock gimmick, but only if Quebec and nearby U.S. areas also move in step — a reminder that basic quality-of-life reforms still get trapped in regional coordination games.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters at Queen’s Park that the province would consider ending seasonal time changes if Quebec and adjacent U.S. jurisdictions, such as New York, moved to a year-round system. He framed the issue as one of economic synchronization, especially for the financial sector, and argued that cross-border business interests should not be disrupted by outdated time shifts.
"We have to be in line with Quebec and along the lines of New York for the financial sector. It just makes life easier," Ford said.
Ford added that a consensus with Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is needed, noting that Ottawa also shares a border with Quebec. Plamondon has indicated his government intends to abolish the time change but has not yet chosen between permanent daylight or standard time.
The premier pointed to recent moves in Western Canada, where Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba have adopted permanent daylight-saving time, saying the shift would reduce time differences with Ontario. In other words, the province knows this is a sensible reform; it is the political hesitation and intergovernmental chess that keep residents stuck with a routine many people already consider unnecessary.
"Manitoba and Western Canada, the reason they did it, they want to get closer to our time frame. They don’t want to be three hours behind," Ford said.