Public engagement launches on seasonal time change
The Yukon government opened a public engagement Monday on seasonal time change.
The Yukon government opened a public engagement Monday on seasonal time change.
Yukoners are being asked whether they want to keep the twice-annual time change or permanently adopt a single time.
The public engagement also asks Yukoners whether they’d prefer Pacific Daylight Saving Time or Pacific Standard Time if the spring and fall time changes are dropped.
The Yukon currently observes Pacific Standard Time in the winter months and Pacific Daylight Saving Time in the summer.
Yukoners can participate in an online survey, which is also available in print form, or share their views by email or mail.
Other governments in the Yukon as well as businesses, organizations and individuals are also invited to provide their written feedback by email or mail.
Through the engagement, people can let the government know which option would best fit their lifestyle and why.
The government plans to consider the input, as well as scientific research and the decisions of neighbouring jurisdictions, when it determines how the Yukon should observe time in the future.
“Jurisdictions across Canada and Pacific North America are re-examining the way they observe time and potential changes could impact our territory,” said Premier Sandy Silver.
“We need to make a decision on what time regime works best for Yukon, and we want to know what Yukoners think before we make that call.”
If the territory permanently adopts Pacific Daylight Saving Time, summer time would be the same as it has for years. Sunrises and sunsets would happen one hour later in the winter, and the territory would align with British Columbia when it makes its permanent time change.
If Yukon were to stay on year-round Pacific Standard Time, winter time would be the same as it is now. Sunrises and sunsets would happen one hour earlier in the summer, and the territory would permanently be behind British Columbia when it makes its permanent time change.
As well, the Yukon would be an additional hour away from other Canadian jurisdictions when they are on Daylight Saving Time (e.g., Alberta would be two hours ahead, Ontario and Quebec would be four hours ahead).
Many jurisdictions in western North America are reviewing how they set and observe time for a number of reasons, including public health, energy, and the economy.
Following its own public engagement, the British Columbia government introduced legislation in 2019 to get rid of the seasonal time change and adopt a new permanent Pacific Time equivalent to Pacific Daylight Saving Time.
Comments (13)
Up 8 Down 3
Apex Parasite on Jan 13, 2020 at 11:33 am
Makes sense to get rid of the spring forward fall back insanity. Also makes sense for us to follow a common time that would see the West coast of the continent all on the same time but it seems BC is opting for DST and as the nearest neighbour it makes sense that we should stay in step with them.
Either way, just set it and forget it.
Up 13 Down 2
Bandit on Jan 13, 2020 at 8:34 am
RE: Timechange.
For the record I would support not having to move the clocks on my stove, microwave, vehicle, alarm, thermostat, etc. twice a year.
A wise Old Indian told me a long time ago re: timechange, he said
"Leave it up to the Government to think you could cut an inch off of one end of a blanket, sew it onto the other end, and you would end up with a longer blanket"...
Up 10 Down 8
Max Mack on Jan 10, 2020 at 7:38 pm
Why follow BC? Why not Alberta?
We could save a lot of hassle by sending Silver and his crew to BC. Vancouver or Victoria would be nice fit. They would get along just fine "down there".
Up 15 Down 7
Juniper Jackson on Jan 10, 2020 at 4:32 pm
I am so glad, with all the issues facing us at present, Time Change won the engagement lottery. Why not a survey on: are you cold? Can you pay for your medicine? Age.. do you want dialysis in the Yukon? All one line, yes or no..not the long involved garbage coming out. I have so much more to worry about than time change. Although, I am sure if this government is involved, somehow it will become an issue for me.
Up 22 Down 1
X-Ray on Jan 10, 2020 at 10:05 am
Ahhhh campaign year. The token, "See, we listen to Yukoners" bit. Just fill out the newest survey of leading and loaded questions, designed to get the answers the govt wants. Sick of this garbage. Lead, already!
Up 15 Down 12
Lennie on Jan 9, 2020 at 2:03 pm
No sensible choice. For making air connections onward, medical travel to Vancouver etc, etc. we have to be on BC time. A 07:00 AM Air North departure time to Vancouver is more than early enough now, particularly for the ill and/or children. Check the screw up time problems now between Ft St John (BC) and Grande Prairie (AB). Alberta screwup Kenny could never be counted on to help Yukon or BC.
We can’t expect Air North passengers to miss connecting flights.
Up 21 Down 2
Anon on Jan 9, 2020 at 7:44 am
I also took the survey (chose PST) although they might as well only ask: "Do you want a time change, yes or no". Offering us a 'choice' as to PDT or PST is nonsense because they will just do whatever BC does anyway.
Up 12 Down 10
Jason on Jan 8, 2020 at 1:05 pm
I did the survey ... It would be so nice to stay on a standard time throughout the year. However, I'm not sure why it's going ahead given the fact that BC said they're not doing it and so that means that we won't either.
Up 21 Down 17
Groucho d'North on Jan 8, 2020 at 1:03 pm
More Liberal waste, this is an excersise in delusions of grandeur. Even if every single Yukoner agreed on which option they prefer, to think a tiny jurisdiction like the Yukon could sway the outcome of how the time zone change issue is resolved speaks of a very inflated ego or a poor grasp of the significance such a change would make for business, industries, transportation and even media broadcasting. B.C., Washington, Oregon and California have a significant interest in this and I suspect the Yukon's voice will be drowned out in comparison to these other states and what they want. I wonder, will we all get participation trophies when its finally decided?
Up 23 Down 12
Yukoner on Jan 8, 2020 at 10:40 am
What a waste of time, we just need to follow whatever BC does... end of story.
Up 30 Down 6
David on Jan 8, 2020 at 9:10 am
I chose "option A", Yukon stays on year-round Daylight Saving Time. This option would stay on our current "summer" time, which would mean that sunrises and sunsets will occur one hour later in the winter than we are used to, so there will be more daylight into the afternoon and evening. This seems like a win-win to me as we would get more daylight after work for outdoor activities and we would be in sync with BC. Sunrises would be an hour later in the winter but regardless of what option we chose it's still dark in morning when I head to work anyways so it doesn't seem like much of a downside.
Up 12 Down 2
jc on Jan 7, 2020 at 5:02 pm
Does the WS know how we can get these public engagement forms? Who are we supposed to see to find out?
Up 15 Down 7
jc on Jan 7, 2020 at 5:00 pm
I'm all in favour of getting rid of DST. I would prefer to stay with the BC decision. However, if they decide not to abolish DST, then I would prefer Yukon abolish DST and just stick with regular time. That's the way it was when I came to the Yukon in 1975.