B.C.’s Premier says legislation on ending the time change is expected to come forward “in the coming weeks.”
Speaking in Whitehorse today, John Horgan says Yukon Premier Sandy Silver also would like to scrap the time change.
But he says the timing of when it could happen in B.C. depends on states on the U.S. west coast getting congressional approval.
“Later in the week I’ll be in Washington meeting with governor (Jay) Inslee and governor (Kate) Brown from Oregon and we’re going to talk about this in more detail. Governor Inslee committed to have his congressional delegation bring the issue to Washington (D.C.), but I think you’d be living under a rock if you didn’t think there were other issues going on in Washington D.C. right now that might supersede daylight savings time,” Horgan says.
“So I’m going to talk to the governors later this week and I’m going to get back to Premier Silver by Friday with a sense of what’s happening in the United States. Our cabinet will review these issues and we’ll have legislation in the weeks ahead… But I do believe, as with Premier Silver, if the west coast moves in lockstep, we’re better off.”
Washington and Oregon have passed legislation to end the time change. Meanwhile California is reconsidering if it wants to proceed, despite a public referendum done recently that showed the majority of people who took part wanted to see daylight savings scrapped.
Horgan was also asked if people in B.C. can expect to change their clocks this November.
“Certainly based on Premier Silver and I having a unanimous view to go forward, I wouldn’t want to rule that out until I’ve talked to the other players, that being Washington, Oregon and California. But I think equally troubling to any change in opinion in California is what appears to be gridlock in Washington D.C.”
Great talking with @Premier_Silver about investing in people and creating good jobs in rural communities in BC and Yukon. Daylight Saving Time may have come up once or twice, too 😉. Thanks to staff at @YukonGov for the warm welcome! pic.twitter.com/lmCM3Hp6Kz
— John Horgan (@jjhorgan) September 30, 2019
