The Ontario government has passed a legislation that would scrap daylight saving time, making daylight time permanent in the province.
The Time Amendment Act, which would end the bi-annual changing of the clocks, was passed on Wednesday on third reading in the legislature. Tabled by MPP for Ottawa West – Nepean Jeremy Roberts in October, the Time Amendment Act aims to reduce “serious negative effects” from daylight saving time.
#BREAKING – The Ontario legislature has just passed a bill that would do away with the twice yearly time change, putting Ontario permanently on daylight saving time. The government however has said the law will not be enacted until Quebec & New York also enact the same change. pic.twitter.com/DiLTWk9pVE
— Richard Southern (@richard680news) November 26, 2020
Roberts says that studies have shown that the bi-annual changing of the clocks can cause negative effects like increased rates of depression, heart attacks, and strokes. Additionally, Roberts says that the change would promote more consumerism by giving residents of Ontario more hours of daylight in the evening.
“I am thrilled that tonight my bill ending the time change in Ontario passed through final reading with unanimous support,” Roberts explains. “Ontario is now poised to lead the way on ending this outdated practice.”
There is one catch: Ontario’s Attorney General would only bring the act into motion if Quebec and New York did so as well. “I look forward now to reaching out to counterparts in Quebec and New York to get them on board this exciting initiative,” Roberts says.