The Problem with Permanent Daylight Saving Time

Introduction

In 2019, the British Columbia government held a public consultation in which 93% of the 223,273 residents polled voted in favour of ending the twice-yearly clock change and adopting permanent Daylight Saving Time [1]. In a 2019 press release, the late Premier John Horgan announced, “British Columbians have said loud and clear that they want to do away with the practice of changing our clocks twice a year and our government is taking action” [2]. Many do not realize that the government never asked the public about adopting permanent Standard Time, and that this decision carries health consequences. As a Registered Dietitian, it is the increased risk of metabolic disorders and implications for mental health that prompted me to write this article.

Why Did Some Provinces Move Away From Twice-yearly Clock Change?

For nearly two decades (2007-2025), twice-yearly clock changes had Canadians “fall back” on the first Sunday in November and “spring forward” on the second Sunday in March, and while this seasonal time change gave us long summer evenings and earlier winter mornings, the spring change was also associated with short-term sleep loss, an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents, and adverse health outcomes [3].

Most, but not all, recent scientific reviews suggested eliminating seasonal clock adjustment and implementing permanent Standard Time [3], which would result in earlier winter sunrises that better align with our natural circadian rhythms. 

Nevertheless, on November 1, 2026, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories chose to remain on permanent Daylight Saving Time.

What Are the Problems with Adopting Permanent Daylight Saving Time?

Dr. Ralph Mistlberger, a Psychology Professor at Simon Fraser University and a neuroscientist who has studied sleep and the body’s circadian rhythms for almost 40 years, and three other BC researchers published an analysis on October 5, 2026, in the Canadian Medical Association Journal warning of the potential risks to health and well-being associated with the darker mornings that will accompany permanent Daylight Saving Time [3].

Daylight Saving Time is a misnomer. It does not save daylight but shifts it 1 hour later. While adopting permanent Daylight Saving Time facilitates the evening commute, social participation, and outdoor activity, many people don’t yet realize that it will also delay sunrise in late December and early January to 9:08 AM in Vancouver, 9:27 AM in Winnipeg, and 9:40 AM in Calgary [3]. This will have people waking and travelling to school or work in darkness, with potential adverse health effects, including increased cardiovascular and metabolic risk, a potential for greater cancer incidence, and negative mental health consequences, especially for those with seasonal affective disorder (SAD)[3].

Mistlberger explained in a recent interview [4] that while people think they want more daylight in the evening, they may not realize the impact of starting a winter day in darkness. They are literally waking up when their body perceives that it’s night because it is still dark outside. Why is this a problem?

What Are Circadian Rhythms and How Do They Tell “Day” from “Night”

A circadian rhythm is the body’s built-in internal clock, which operates on an approximately 24-hour cycle and determines whether it is “day” or “night”. Our circadian rhythm is regulated by two natural biological clocks: the master clock, located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus in the brain, which is set (entrained) by light, particularly the blue wavelengths in morning daylight [5]; and the peripheral clocks located in all of our organs, which synchronize with the master clock through multiple signals, including the release of insulin [6] after we eat.

The biological work our body does during the day is very different from what it does at night. During the day, our body is occupied with digesting and absorbing food, excreting feces and urine, and regulating our breathing and heart rate as we run for the bus. At night, our body is synthesizing proteins, breaking down old cells and making new ones, and cleaning waste products from the brain using the glymphatic system.

How I explain it to my clients is to think of our body as a factory that makes one product during the day, like bicycles, and a different product at night, like scooters, but uses the same machinery for both. Our body needs a way to know which production schedule to follow — to know whether it is “day” or “night”. How does it do that?

What is the Importance of Morning Daylight?

In the morning, specialized cells in our eyes, called intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, contain a light-sensitive pigment called melanopsin. These cells detect the blue wavelengths of early morning sunlight and send electrical signals to the master clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, telling it that it is “day”. This signal suppresses any remaining melatonin production by the pineal gland, helping to clear morning grogginess and allowing us to feel awake.

The master clock doesn’t operate on an exact 24-hour schedule. Instead, it runs approximately 24 hours and 11 minutes [7]. This means that without exposure to morning daylight, the body’s internal clock would naturally shift 11 minutes later each day. Over the course of a week, your biological clock would drift out of sync with the physical world by more than an hour.

Because of this natural 11-minute delay, the master clock needs daily exposure to light containing the wavelengths present in early morning sunlight to reset it. Without daily morning light exposure, our internal body clock will gradually begin to drift. It will think it’s still nighttime long after we’ve had breakfast, because it will be dark outside until almost 9:00 AM. It takes more than coffee to clear the grogginess. It takes blue-wavelength light.

What Are the Problems with Dark Mornings?

Starting a winter day in the dark means waking up at an earlier circadian phase, when our body thinks it is “night”. This can lead to social jet lag, a condition in which a person’s daily activities and social schedule are out of sync with their body’s natural biological clock [4].

In a recent interview, Dr. Ralph Mistlberger warned that an ongoing disconnect between our social schedules and our internal body clocks can have health consequences, including an increased risk of metabolic disorders, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease [4]. In an analysis of health impact published on October 5, 2026, in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Mistlberger and colleagues warned of the potential risks to health, the economy, and students’ well-being associated with the darker mornings that will accompany permanent Daylight Saving Time [3].

In a CTV News article published yesterday, November 1, 2026 [8], the day permanent Daylight Saving Time took effect, Dr. Wendy Hall, Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia’s School of Nursing, stated: “We chose the wrong way to go. We shouldn’t have chosen permanent Daylight Saving Time.” She and other researchers propose a simple solution: set the clocks back one last time and then remain on Standard Time permanently [8].

How Can We Get Morning Light When It’s Dark Out?

We know that we need exposure to the blue wavelengths of morning daylight every morning, but how can we achieve this when it’s dark outside until 9:00 AM?

For the past four years, to support normal circadian rhythms and promote better metabolic health, I have recommended that my clients purchase a relatively inexpensive 10,000-lux light therapy box, available online, and sit in front of it at the same time each morning for 20–30 minutes, positioning it approximately 16 inches from their face. Since the goal is to increase exposure to blue-wavelength light, I recommend setting it to the cooler colour temperature.

Are Bright Kitchen Lights Enough?

No. Some of my clients tell me that they have bright lights in their kitchen and assume that should be good enough. Since my late dad was in the lighting business, and I worked for him while going through school, I explain to them the difference between regular overhead lighting and a light therapy box.

Light intensity is measured in a unit called a lux. A clear, sunny morning, which we occasionally experience in the Lower Mainland, provides approximately 30,000 lux. A cloudy, drizzly morning in BC, which is more typical, provides between 5,000 and 10,000 lux, and in the absence of morning daylight, a 10,000 lux light therapy box works.

There are apps, such as Lux Meter, available for both Android and iPhone that can help you get a better idea of what 10,000 lux of morning light looks like.

What is a Healthy Morning and Evening Light Exposure Protocol?

Circadian light protocols have been developed by neurobiologists at Stanford University, including Dr. Andrew Huberman and chronobiologist Dr. Jamie Zeitzer, as well as by architectural lighting researchers at the Light and Health Research Center at Mount Sinai, led by Dr. Mariana Figueiro and Dr. Mark Rea. Although they take different approaches, both recommend the following:

1. Early morning exposure to blue-wavelength light within 30–60 minutes of waking up.

2. Dim ambient lighting (floor and table lamps) with warm, amber hues that are not LED-based, beginning 2–3 hours before bedtime. I use and recommend incandescent bulbs (the old-fashioned type that get hot) in floor and table lamps for use after dinner.

Clinical Conclusion

In an ideal situation, the sun would rise early in the morning, allowing us to go outside and get 5–10 minutes of natural sunlight on a clear day or 10–20 minutes on an overcast day. However, when it remains dark outside until 9:00 AM or later, that simply isn’t an option. Hopefully, the government will eventually reconsider its decision and adopt permanent Standard Time. In the meantime, these are the practical workarounds I recommend.

1. At the same time every morning (yes, on weekdays and weekends, to avoid “metabolic jet lag”), sit in front of a light therapy box set to the coolest colour-temperature setting, within the first 30–60 minutes of waking up. This will signal to your master clock that “day” has begun. For the inexpensive light box that I often recommend, the recommended distance is 16 inches.

2. After an early dinner (by 6:00 PM), turn off overhead LED and fluorescent lights and switch to floor and table lamps fitted with warm, amber-hued incandescent bulbs.

3. Avoid blue-wavelength light from screens (TVs, computers, tablets, e-readers, and smartphones) during the last few hours before bed. This will allow your eyes to send the appropriate signals to the master clock in your brain that “night” is approaching.

4. If avoiding screens in the hours before bed isn’t possible, investing in quality blue-blocker glasses that filter out blue-wavelength light is worthwhile.

Until we can wake up and go outside for natural light exposure, using a light therapy box in the morning, avoiding electronic screens in the evening, and wearing blue-blocker glasses if necessary can help minimize the disconnect between our social schedules, which begin with dark mornings, and our natural biological clocks.

More Info

If you already have, or are at risk of developing, metabolic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, or cardiovascular disease, I can design a Meal Plan to help lower your risk and teach you how to eat and sleep in ways that support your natural circadian rhythms. You can learn about me and explore the Comprehensive Dietary Package that I offer.

To your good health,

Joy

You can follow me on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jyerdile
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BetterByDesignNutrition/

Quick Clinical Summary

Q: Are there health risks associated with permanent Daylight Saving Time?

A: Yes. Waking up in the morning when it is still dark can lead to social jet lag, which occurs when our daily activities and social schedules are out of sync with our body’s natural biological clock. This disconnect can have health consequences, including an increased risk of metabolic disorders, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Q: How much light do we need in the morning?

A: A bright, sunny morning provides approximately 30,000 lux, which provides sufficient light with 5–10 minutes of exposure. A cloudy, drizzly morning provides between 5,000 and 10,000 lux, requiring 10–20 minutes of exposure. Light therapy boxes provide 10,000 lux, so 20 minutes of exposure while sitting approximately 16 inches away is sufficient.

References

1. BC Government Communications and Public Engagement, Daylight Saving Time Public Consultation, Final Report, August 2019, https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/121/2019/11/Daylight-Saving-Time-Final-Report.pdf
2. BC Gov News, Office of the Premier, Interpretation amendment act sets stage for year-round daylight time, https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2019PREM0118-002084
3. Lam R.W., Mistlberger R, Baylis P et al., Analysis of health impacts associated with adopting permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time to inform policy in Canada, Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), October 5, 2026, 198 (34), E1335–E1340; DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.261089
4. Global News, Clocks Stay in Daylight Saving, but Analysis Backs Permanent Standard Time, October 6, 2026, https://globalnews.ca/news/12087724/daylight-saving-analysis-manitoba-bc/
5. Ralph, M. R., Foster, R. G., Davis, F. C., & Menaker, M. (1990). Transplanted suprachiasmatic nucleus determines circadian period. Science, 247(4945), 975–978. DOI: 10.1126/science.2305266
6. Stenvers, D. J., Scheer, F. A. J. L., Schrauwen, P., La Fleur, S. E., & Kalsbeek, A. (2018). Circadian clocks and insulin resistance. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 15, 75–89. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-018-0122-1
7. Czeisler, C. A., Duffy, J. F., Shanahan, T. L., et al. (1999). Stability, Precision, and Near-24-Hour Period of the Human Circadian Pacemaker. Science, 284(5423), 2177–2181. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.284.5423.2177
8. CTV News, Why Sleep Experts Say B.C. Made the Wrong Call on Daylight Time, November 1, 2026, https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/more-evening-light-less-sleep-the-health-concerns-behind-bcs-time-change/

 

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

 

Joy Erdile, MSc, RD

I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and the owner of BetterByDesign Nutrition Ltd. With a postgraduate degree in Human Nutrition and a background as a published mental health nutrition researcher, I have been dedicated to supporting my clients’ clinical needs since 2008.

I hold active professional licenses in BC (CHPBC), Alberta (CDA), and Ontario (CDO), allowing me to provide regulated Medical Nutrition Therapy across these provinces. My expertise spans chronic disease management, complex digestive health, and therapeutic diets. I am deeply passionate about helping people reclaim their health, rooted in my firm belief that Nutrition is BetterByDesign©.