B.C. might say goodbye to changing clocks, says premier

Changing clocks could be a thing of the past in B.C. as the province muses joiningWashington, Oregon and California, whichhave proposedeliminating seasonal time changes.

Legislators from the three U.S. statesrecently proposedbills that would end the one-hour time changes from standard time to daylighttime in spring, then back again in fall, sticking toone time setting year-round.

B.C. Premier JohnHorgansays he recently sent a letter to the three governors,requesting they share information on the proposed change. He says if B.C. isto either keeppermanent daylighttime or permanent Pacific standard time, it must be done in all fourjurisdictions.

"We have too many economic ties ... too many social and cultural ties to have onejurisdictionor two being out of sync with the others,"Horgantold reporters in Victoria on March 7.

Horganhadpreviously said B.C. wouldn't lose the time change, citing those same ties. His comments Friday come just as British Columbiansare preparing to set their clocks one hour aheadSunday, March 10.

The Peace River Regional District and the town ofCrestondo not move their clocks forward in spring.

Why leave the clock alone?

Washington state Democratic Senator Sam Hunt recently signed onto supporting the state's billin favour of year-round daylighttime. He says it's been a topic of conversation in Washington state for years.

"We saw in studies there are more suicides around the time change. There's disruption of life," Hunt told Early Edition host Stephen Quinn.

Several studies have found springing ahead comes with a slew of negative consequences, including decreased productivity and a spike in traffic accidents.

A 2014 study out of the University of Colorado found a 25-per-cent increase in the risk ofheart attackthe Monday after the start of daylighttime.

It also noted a corresponding decrease in the risk ofheart attackat the end of daylighttime in the fall.

Hunt says the change would promote ease of movement between states and avoid schedule confusion in the travel, shipping and entertainment industries.

An act of Congress

B.C. can make the change without any involvement with the federal government, unlike U.S. states.

If thelegislation put forward by Washington, California and Oregon passes in each state and becomes law,it will takean act of U.S. Congress for the statesto move to full year-round daylighttime.

Hunt says if every state passes their bills, all western states should request federal approval together.

"I think it would create some problems if California were in one time zone and Oregon and Washington were in another time zone. And maybe British Columbia could join us to do it all at once," said Hunt.

The change would take at least two years to go into effect.

"Whatever we do, there'll be change involved, and it'll take some getting used to."

Currently, Saskatchewan is the only Canadian province without seasonal time changes.

Listen to the interview with Senator Sam Hunt here:

With files by The Early EditionandRobin De Angelis.