British Columbia is done with the twice-yearly ritual of clock-changing. After the spring-forward on March 8, the province will never fall back again.
The B.C. government announced Monday that the province will permanently adopt daylight saving time — effectively locking clocks at UTC-7 year-round. The final clock change takes place Sunday, March 8, 2026. When November rolls around and the rest of the country turns clocks back an hour, British Columbians will simply stay put.
Broad public backing drove the change
The decision follows years of public pressure. A 2019 provincial engagement drew 223,000 respondents — one of the largest public consultations in B.C. history — and 93 per cent backed year-round daylight saving time. The NDP government has repeatedly cited that mandate in the years since, though legislative and inter-jurisdictional hurdles slowed the rollout.
Premier David Eby framed the move in blunt terms. “Changing clocks twice a year causes a significant amount of chaos on already busy lives,” he said in the announcement. Attorney General Niki Sharma echoed the sentiment, saying permanent time would “reduce twice-yearly, unnecessary disruptions to the routines of parents, shift workers, small businesses, pet owners and so many more.”
Northeastern and southeastern communities excepted
Not every corner of the province will feel the change the same way. Communities in northeastern and southeastern B.C. that currently observe mountain time will retain their existing practices. Many of those areas will, however, effectively align with the new provincial standard given the geographic reality of time zones.
Transition window ahead
The government says it will work with businesses and public organizations between March and November 2026 to prepare for the permanent shift. The November 1 date — when clocks would normally fall back — marks the completion of the transition.
The move places B.C. in alignment with a growing push across North America to end clock-switching. Several U.S. states have passed similar legislation, though federal action in Washington has stalled. B.C.’s change is provincial in scope and does not require federal approval.
Source: BC Government News, March 2, 2026
