The arrival of the winter solstice, marking the shortest day of the year, has once again illuminated a perennial debate in Canada: should the country make the switch to permanent daylight saving time?
The Case for Morning Light
Proponents of ending the biannual clock change argue that the precious hours of morning sunlight are critical for human health, safety, and economic productivity. The winter solstice on December 22, 2025, serves as a stark reminder of just how limited daylight can become in northern latitudes during the colder months.
Advocates suggest that locking the clock to daylight time year-round would provide an extra hour of evening light for most of the year, potentially boosting consumer activity and outdoor recreation. However, critics counter that this would come at the cost of darker mornings, particularly in the winter, which could negatively impact children traveling to school and disrupt circadian rhythms.
A Failed Experiment from the Past
The idea is not new. During the energy crisis of the 1970s, the United States implemented year-round daylight saving time in an attempt to conserve fuel. The experiment, however, was short-lived and abandoned within a single year due to widespread unpopularity, particularly over concerns regarding dark winter mornings.
This historical precedent continues to inform the current discussion in Canada, where any move to permanent daylight time would likely need to be coordinated with the United States to avoid confusion for cross-border trade, travel, and communication.
Health and Societal Impacts
The biannual time shift itself has come under increased scrutiny from health experts. Studies have linked the sudden change to increases in heart attacks, strokes, workplace accidents, and mood disturbances in the days following the transition. A permanent time standard would eliminate this twice-yearly shock to the system.
The debate often centers on whether the benefits of brighter evenings outweigh the drawbacks of darker mornings. Sleep scientists frequently emphasize the importance of morning light for setting the body's internal clock and promoting alertness throughout the day.
As the sun sets early on the shortest day of the year, the conversation about how Canadians mark time is guaranteed to continue. The solstice serves as an annual catalyst for discussions on public policy, health, and how we choose to live with our planet's natural rhythms. Any future move toward permanent daylight time would require careful consideration of these complex and often competing factors.
