British Columbians will spring forward by one hour this Sunday for the last time, as the province moves to permanently adopt year-round daylight time.

Speaking to students and families at a lively announcement in Victoria, Premier David Eby confirmed that after clocks move ahead on March 8, the biannual ritual of changing clocks will come to an end in B.C.

“Ending the seasonal time change is about consistency and well-being,” Eby said. “This decision isn’t just about clocks. It’s about quality of life for British Columbians.”

A Family-Focused Announcement

The premier began the event by chatting with local children about their sleep habits — and how little the time change actually affects when kids and pets wake up.

“When we change our clocks twice a year, it creates all kinds of problems,” Eby said. “Kids get up at the same time, even though the clocks change. Dogs get up at the same time. Parents lose sleep. And even people without kids are losing an hour of sleep.”

He pointed to research linking time changes to increased fatigue and even spikes in car accidents in the days following the spring shift.

The province first surveyed residents more than six years ago, receiving over 200,000 responses calling for an end to the twice-yearly clock adjustments. In 2019, the government passed amendments to enable a permanent move to daylight time but held off implementation while waiting for U.S. West Coast states to make a similar change.

California, Oregon and Washington all passed legislation supporting permanent daylight time, contingent on approval from U.S. Congress. That approval has yet to materialize.

“We waited for our American partners,” Eby said. “But they’re stuck. Someone’s got to go first. The Yukon went first — and now we’re done waiting.”

How the Change Will Work

On Sunday, March 8, clocks will move forward one hour as usual. However, when November 1 arrives — the date clocks would normally “fall back” — no change will occur.

B.C. will instead adopt a new, permanent time setting officially called “Pacific Time,” fixed at seven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC−7), matching the current daylight saving offset.

During the winter months (November to March):

• B.C. will align with Alberta and other regions observing Mountain Standard Time.

• The province will be one hour behind Washington, Oregon and California.

During the summer months:

• B.C. will align with Pacific Daylight Time jurisdictions, including Washington, Oregon and California.

• It will remain aligned year-round with Yukon, which already observes permanent daylight time.

The legal authority for the change stems from 2019 amendments to the Interpretation Amendment Act, which created the framework for eliminating the seasonal switch. Those amendments will be brought into force next week.

Officials emphasized that while the time zone technically changes in March, the most noticeable shift — not “falling back” — will occur in November. The delayed implementation gives businesses, institutions and transportation providers time to prepare.

Impact on Workers and Families

Speaker 2 at the announcement, a cabinet minister and mother of two, described the change as a practical improvement for everyday life.

“As a mom of two young kids, I cannot wait until next week is the last time I have to adjust my kids to a time change,” she said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

She noted that nurses, paramedics, hospitality workers, transit operators and other shift workers will benefit from not having to adjust schedules twice a year.

“Twice a year we’re united — mostly in tiredness and confusion,” she joked. “What we’re gaining is stable schedules and predictable mornings.”

British Columbia has observed seasonal time changes on and off since 1918. Nearly 110 years later, the province will now move to a single, steady time standard.

A Push for the West Coast

While B.C. had previously committed to coordinating with U.S. West Coast states, Eby said the province is now taking action independently — while encouraging U.S. lawmakers to follow suit.

“We’re going to decide what’s best for British Columbians and British Columbia families,” he said. “And here’s to a future where kids and pets get the sleep they need — and the grown-ups too.”

More details on the transition and guidance for businesses are expected in the coming days.