NL isn't ruling out ditching daylight saving time
NL will look at the idea of a permanent ban
Author of the article:Nicholas Mercer
Published Oct 30, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 3 minute read
NL Premier Tony Wakeham spoke with reporters at the end of Question Period at the House of Assembly on Oct. 29.
NL Premier Tony Wakeham spoke with reporters at the end of Question Period at the House of Assembly on Oct. 29. Photo by Nicholas Mercer/The Telegram
Like most other places in the country, NL will gain an extra hour when clocks strike 2 a.m. on Nov. 1.
It will happen as it has since 1917, when Canada became the first country in North America to adopt daylight saving time.
However, what if we don’t observe daylight saving time and instead abolish the longstanding practice?
It isn’t something NL Premier Tony Wakeham is ruling out, especially as more and more provinces enact similar practices.
“It’s something that you know we need to look at,” Wakeham told reporters on Oct. 29. “Certainly, I’d be open to making sure that we align with the rest of the country and do what’s right in the best interests of Newfoundland and Labrador at the end of the day.”
That subject is something he plans to bring up when he meets with the other provincial premiers in December.
His counterpart in Nova Scotia recently said that his province would go with whatever way the rest of the Atlantic Provinces, including New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, does.
Falling in line
Should they decide to make the time change no more, Newfoundland and Labrador would join several other provinces in making the jump.
Alberta passed legislation in June that locks in daylight saving time, while Manitoba, British Columbia, the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan have also made it a permanent thing.
Meanwhile, parts of Northern Ontario will lock it in, with other parts continuing to jump back and forth.
The new Quebec government is also considering the change.
As he considers the move, Wakeham said it is important to keep in line with the rest of the country.
“We need to make sure that we align as a country, and I hope to have that discussion with all the premiers,” said Wakeham.
clock change
Daylight Saving Time ends on Nov. 1 at 2 a.m. Photo by Daniel Tamas Mehes / iStock /Getty Images
The first to the change
Daylight saving time, the move to change the clocks twice a year one way or the other, was first adopted during the First World War in Canada as a way to increase production for the war effort back home.
Newfoundland was still a part of the Dominion then, and when the province adopted it in June 1917, they were the first to do so in the Americas.
From there, it became a standard fixture after the Second World War. In 1987, the administration of daylight saving time fell under the jurisdiction of the provinces and territories.
A year later, Newfoundland tried something different when it introduced double daylight saving time in 1988. During this move, the province pushed clocks ahead two hours instead of one hour.
“I remember the time of Double Daylight Saving Time, and the impact that had,” said Wakeham.
The experiment was quickly squashed after public outrage at the move.
A petition for change
While Wakeham ponders any possible time change, there is currently a petition on Change.org requesting he do just that.
To date, it’s been signed by over 9,100 people and calls on the province to abolish Daylight Saving Time in order to help people with their health.
“Twice a year, like clockwork, our routines are disrupted by the changing of the clocks,” reads the petition. “This ritual leaves struggling families to adjust, children battling with sleep patterns, and unnecessary inefficiencies.”
Checking with businesses
Before anything changes in this province, Wakeham said he’ll need to consult with people in the province, especially its business community.
From that perspective, it’ll be important to make sure that community is able to effectively work with their counterparts around the country.
They won’t be giving up the unique time zone that governs much of the province, but they’ll work with it in other ways.
“We’re not going to give that up, but at the same time, I think it’s very important that we make sure that we’re lined up from the business perspective as well,” said Wakeham.
As it stands for this year, however, people in NL should be ready to set their clocks back on Nov. 1 at 2 a.m.
torontosun.com
NL will look at the idea of a permanent ban
Author of the article:Nicholas Mercer
Published Oct 30, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 3 minute read
NL Premier Tony Wakeham spoke with reporters at the end of Question Period at the House of Assembly on Oct. 29.
NL Premier Tony Wakeham spoke with reporters at the end of Question Period at the House of Assembly on Oct. 29. Photo by Nicholas Mercer/The Telegram
Like most other places in the country, NL will gain an extra hour when clocks strike 2 a.m. on Nov. 1.
It will happen as it has since 1917, when Canada became the first country in North America to adopt daylight saving time.
However, what if we don’t observe daylight saving time and instead abolish the longstanding practice?
It isn’t something NL Premier Tony Wakeham is ruling out, especially as more and more provinces enact similar practices.
“It’s something that you know we need to look at,” Wakeham told reporters on Oct. 29. “Certainly, I’d be open to making sure that we align with the rest of the country and do what’s right in the best interests of Newfoundland and Labrador at the end of the day.”
That subject is something he plans to bring up when he meets with the other provincial premiers in December.
His counterpart in Nova Scotia recently said that his province would go with whatever way the rest of the Atlantic Provinces, including New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, does.
Falling in line
Should they decide to make the time change no more, Newfoundland and Labrador would join several other provinces in making the jump.
Alberta passed legislation in June that locks in daylight saving time, while Manitoba, British Columbia, the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan have also made it a permanent thing.
Meanwhile, parts of Northern Ontario will lock it in, with other parts continuing to jump back and forth.
The new Quebec government is also considering the change.
As he considers the move, Wakeham said it is important to keep in line with the rest of the country.
“We need to make sure that we align as a country, and I hope to have that discussion with all the premiers,” said Wakeham.
clock change
Daylight Saving Time ends on Nov. 1 at 2 a.m. Photo by Daniel Tamas Mehes / iStock /Getty Images
The first to the change
Daylight saving time, the move to change the clocks twice a year one way or the other, was first adopted during the First World War in Canada as a way to increase production for the war effort back home.
Newfoundland was still a part of the Dominion then, and when the province adopted it in June 1917, they were the first to do so in the Americas.
From there, it became a standard fixture after the Second World War. In 1987, the administration of daylight saving time fell under the jurisdiction of the provinces and territories.
A year later, Newfoundland tried something different when it introduced double daylight saving time in 1988. During this move, the province pushed clocks ahead two hours instead of one hour.
“I remember the time of Double Daylight Saving Time, and the impact that had,” said Wakeham.
The experiment was quickly squashed after public outrage at the move.
A petition for change
While Wakeham ponders any possible time change, there is currently a petition on Change.org requesting he do just that.
To date, it’s been signed by over 9,100 people and calls on the province to abolish Daylight Saving Time in order to help people with their health.
“Twice a year, like clockwork, our routines are disrupted by the changing of the clocks,” reads the petition. “This ritual leaves struggling families to adjust, children battling with sleep patterns, and unnecessary inefficiencies.”
Checking with businesses
Before anything changes in this province, Wakeham said he’ll need to consult with people in the province, especially its business community.
From that perspective, it’ll be important to make sure that community is able to effectively work with their counterparts around the country.
They won’t be giving up the unique time zone that governs much of the province, but they’ll work with it in other ways.
“We’re not going to give that up, but at the same time, I think it’s very important that we make sure that we’re lined up from the business perspective as well,” said Wakeham.
As it stands for this year, however, people in NL should be ready to set their clocks back on Nov. 1 at 2 a.m.
No more time change? NL isn't ruling out ditching daylight saving time
Premier Tony Wakeham says he'll be discussing the idea of ditching the time change with premiers as over 9,100 people sign petition
at least on the bright side, the multiple discussion threads are only twice a year. 