Canadian Prairies (Rural Roots Canada) – Alberta and Saskatchewan are ending seasonal time changes, meaning producers and agricultural businesses, particularly along the provincial boundary, will no longer have to account for a clock change each fall and spring.
Alberta moves to permanent daylight time, known as Alberta Time, on Nov. 1, while Saskatchewan will remain on Central Standard Time year-round under legislation taking effect Oct. 30.
Alberta made the change in the wake of British Columbia announcing it would move to permanent daylight saving time back in March.
The changes mean both provinces will observe the same time throughout the year, eliminating the one-hour difference that previously existed during the winter months.
The change is particularly relevant to the Lloydminster region, where agricultural operations, businesses and communities straddle the Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary.
Under Saskatchewan’s previous time legislation, the Saskatchewan side of Lloydminster switched to Mountain Standard Time in the winter to remain aligned with Alberta. That will no longer be necessary.
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For agricultural producers and businesses operating across the provincial boundary, having a consistent time could simplify scheduling around deliveries, transportation, livestock movements and other day-to-day operations.
British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon and the Northwest Territories have already ended seasonal time changes.
In 2019, a B.C. government report found that 92% of farmers supported year-round daylight saving time.
The shift takes effect this weekend, with Albertans keeping their clocks on the same time rather than falling back an hour.
