Re: Daylight Savings’ time has past, Oak Bay News, Opinion, March 15, 2017
I fully agree with the arguments in the editorial that it is time to stop changing our clocks twice a year, but I submit that you have got the wrong end of the stick. It is Standard Time that should be ended, and it is time to bring in year-round Daylight Saving Time (DST) once and for all.
In my view, a substantial majority of people would prefer to have an extra hour of daylight in the evening rather than in the morning. The recent changes to increase the portion of the year under DST support that view.
Also, reasons that countries use DST include making better use of natural daylight and decreasing road accidents by ensuring that roads are naturally lit during the hours with most traffic. Going to year-round DST better achieves those objectives. Studies have also shown that children get more exercise on days with later sunsets – a positive outcome.
If all Canada changes to year-round DST, then time differences within Canada remain unchanged. But, if other parts of Canada keep the current practice or go to year-round Standard Time while B.C. changes to year-round DST, then for part or all of the year, B.C. businesses would benefit by the reduction of the time difference between B.C. and other provinces of one hour.
Ian F. Macdonald
Oak Bay
