Will this be the last daylight saving time in Ontario?

It might feel like you get an extra hour of sleep this weekend as clocks move back for daylight saving time, but Ontario could one day join the ranks of Canadian provinces that skip the time jump altogether.

First introduced more than 100 years ago, daylight saving time was used as a way of increasing daylight hours to conserve energy during the First World War. Germany was the first to use it in 1916 with Europe and the U.S. following, and the name later called “War Time” during World War II.

This year the clocks will change in Ontario on Nov. 3 at 2 a.m. and the time change is still observed in much of Canada with the Yukon, most of Saskatchewan, B.C. and parts of Quebec.

But Ontario could do away with daylight saving time if some neighbouring cities and states also get on board.

Ontario passed a bill in 2020 to make daylight saving time permanent, but the change is still on hold as both Quebec and New York State would need to agree to using standard time all-year-round —a commitment neither has made yet.

Just last week Quebec announced plans for public consultations on daylight saving time that will run until Dec. 1. Depending on the outcome, the government could table legislation to get rid of daylight saving time, bringing its abolishment in Ontario one step closer.

In 2022, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to scrap the time changes to make daylight saving time permanent. The bill then failed in the House, with the New York Times reporting it would take around a year to enact any such law were it to get passed.

Studies have found the bi-annual time change can have serious and negative effects, including increased depression rates, heart attacks, strokes, and an increase of fatal collisions.

Research from Johns Hopkins suggests that the time shift can lead to higher stress and disrupted sleep, while some say the additional daylight in the evening hours in the spring and summer are beneficial to mental health.

Losing sleep can lead to health risks like decreases in cardiovascular health, and increases in diabetes and obesity, according to the study.

Daylight saving time starts in Ontario on Sunday at 2 a.m.