Alberta to introduce legislation to end seasonal time changes, premier says

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province plans to eliminate twice-a-year clock changes and remain on daylight time year-round, according to comments she made to Postmedia.

Smith said the change would mean Albertans would no longer set clocks forward in the spring or back in the fall, instead staying on the current time throughout the year. On a practical level, that would result in darker mornings during winter months but extended daylight in the evening.

The premier indicated legislation to implement the change is expected to be introduced later this week. Details of how the transition would be managed, including timing and any coordination with other jurisdictions, have not yet been publicly released.

The proposal follows a consultation announced by the Alberta government last month on whether to continue seasonal time changes. That process came after British Columbia signalled its intention to adopt permanent daylight time, contingent on alignment with neighbouring regions.

The decision engages provincial authority over time observance and could affect sectors including transportation, broadcasting and interprovincial commerce, where coordination across time zones is a factor. It is not yet clear whether Alberta’s move will depend on similar changes in adjacent provinces or U.S. states.