Manitoba’s decision to end seasonal clock changes and remain on permanent daylight saving time has drawn criticism from sleep specialists, who argue that keeping daylight time year-round could create health and sleep challenges, particularly for children and teenagers.
Premier Wab Kinew announced the policy on September 17 after a provincial consultation that received nearly 72,000 responses. The government said 92% of respondents wanted to end the twice-yearly clock change, while 58% preferred permanent daylight time and 34% preferred permanent standard time.
Under the new policy, Manitobans will not turn their clocks back on November 1, 2026. The province will remain on daylight time throughout the year.
Sleep medicine specialist Dr. Michael Mak, a clinical vice-president of the Canadian Sleep Society, said eliminating the twice-yearly clock changes is beneficial, but questioned the decision to choose permanent daylight time rather than permanent standard time.
Mak warned that winter mornings could become particularly dark, with sunrise approaching 9 a.m. in the depths of winter. He said this could be especially difficult for school-aged children and teenagers who need to travel to school before sunrise.
According to Mak, morning exposure to natural light helps regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, the internal biological clock that influences sleep, alertness and other biological processes. He said reduced morning light could contribute to disrupted sleep, shorter sleep duration and potential mental-health concerns.
Neuropsychologist and sleep researcher Rebecca Robillard of the University of Ottawa also argued that standard time is more closely aligned with the natural light-dark cycle. She said morning light helps synchronize the body’s biological clock, while excessive evening light can interfere with the production of the sleep hormone melatonin.
The Manitoba government, however, has pointed to research showing that eliminating the twice-yearly clock change could improve population health compared with maintaining the current system. Its consultation also found a clear majority of respondents wanted to stop changing their clocks.
The debate now centers on which permanent time is healthiest, rather than whether Manitoba should continue switching between standard and daylight time.
With the province preparing to keep daylight time permanently, sleep experts are urging policymakers and families to pay close attention to how darker winter mornings affect school schedules, sleep patterns and overall well-being.
Swifteradio.com
