Permanent daylight saving time in Canada
The times they are a-changin’, and this year, some Canadian employers will feel the effects more than ever. As more regions adopt permanent daylight saving time on November 1, your business may need to rethink schedules and core working hours, especially if you employ staff across more than one jurisdiction.
Understanding how time changes affect your organization’s schedules, hours, payroll, and overall operations is essential for seamless coordination and uninterrupted productivity across your teams. This blog post will highlight the need for employers to stay informed and adaptable as permanent daylight saving time transforms the Canadian workplace.
Is Canada moving to permanent daylight saving time?
Not as a nation, no. Canada has no federal law dictating when clocks change; each province and territory legislates its own time, so the map is shifting one region at a time.
What regions are changing time zones in Canada?
Several Canadian provinces and territories have moved, or are moving, to end seasonal clock changes and stick with permanent year-round time standards.
Western provinces and territories:
No more changing clocks twice a year
British Columbia: Most of the province will observe Pacific Time (PCT, UTC-7) all year.
- The last clock change was March 8, 2026, and clocks will no longer « fall back » for the November 1 time change.
Alberta: Will observe Alberta Time (ABT, UTC-6) all year starting November 1, 2026.
- Seasonal clock changes have ended.
Manitoba: Will observe Manitoba Standard Time (MBT, UTC-5) all year starting November 1, 2026.
- No more spring and fall clock changes.
Northwest Territories: Will observe Northwest Territories Time (NWT, UTC-6) all year starting November 1, 2026.
- Sharing a common time with both Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Ontario:
Partial change
Northwestern Ontario: Communities west of the 90th meridian, including Kenora, Dryden, and Fort Frances, are expected to move to permanent daylight saving time starting November 1 to better align with Manitoba Standard Time.
- These communities would share the same time as the remainder of Ontario during the winter months. For additional information on the communities that may be affected by this change, see this news release from the Government of Ontario.
Which provinces and territories still change their clocks in 2026?
On November 1, 2026, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and most of Nunavut will turn their clocks back one hour.
Some northern and border communities also follow their own rules, so always confirm local time zones for each of your sites. If your business operates across multiple jurisdictions, this patchwork is where scheduling and payroll errors can creep in.
Does the time change affect payroll and overnight staff?
Canadian employment standards require hourly employees to be paid for the hours they actually work, not the hours on the schedule. In jurisdictions where clocks still change, an overnight employee scheduled for eight hours through to 2 a.m. actually works nine hours, because the clocks fall back at 2 a.m., repeating the hour between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Employers must pay the employee for that ninth hour.
Keep an eye on your overtime, too: that extra hour can cause a shift or a week to exceed the statutory overtime threshold, where overtime pay, generally time-and-a-half, may apply. In the spring, it runs the other way; the overnight shift is an hour shorter, so hourly pay follows the shorter hours unless a contract says otherwise.
There are supports available to save you the headache of trying to remember this: clear wording in your employment contracts and policies and a system that tracks real hours instead of assuming a clean eight. An employee management system keeps documentation and records in one place, and scheduling tools like Atlas Canada build shifts to manage time changes before they reach payroll.
What should Canadian employers do before the next daylight saving time change?
A little preparation before the clocks change, or stay the same, can make the following workday smoother. Start by confirming which rule applies in each jurisdiction where your staff work, then make sure your scheduling, timekeeping, and payroll systems align. Lock in your overnight schedules as early as possible, brief your managers on which sites will change and which won’t, and remind staff of any time changes well before the weekend.
Quick takeaways about permanent daylight saving time in Canada
- Confirm the clock rule for every province and territory where your people perform work.
- Pay overnight staff for hours actually worked on both the fall and spring shifts.
- Watch provincial and territorial overtime thresholds. The extra hour can trigger additional pay entitlements, such as time-and-a-half.
- Finalize overnight schedules and brief managers well before clocks change.
- Make sure your scheduling, timekeeping, and payroll systems can handle all time changes without errors.
Why are provinces and territories switching to permanent daylight saving time?
Each province and territory frames the decision differently, but public opinion drove the changes. Health was the most cited reason. Research has shown that changing the clocks disrupts sleep and temporarily raises the risk of car accidents, employee lateness, and mood issues
When British Columbia asked, more than 93% of respondents backed a permanent, year-round daylight time standard; Manitoba’s consultation landed similarly, with 92% voting to end the twice-a-year time change. Manitoba framed the change as good for health, businesses, and parents, while British Columbia pointed to better rest, fewer disruptions for families, simpler scheduling, and more evening light in winter.
British Columbia coordinated its time change to align with Yukon while Manitoba’s decision has prompted Ontario to propose a similar change for parts of Northwestern Ontario. Those parts of Ontario are already closely connected to Manitoba for trade, commuting, and other cross-border activities, so being an hour out of sync creates avoidable barriers for business and workforce coordination.
Frequently asked questions
Does Ontario have permanent daylight saving time?
Not yet. Ontario is still scheduled to turn its clocks back on November 1, 2026. But the government of Ontario has announced plans for parts of Northwestern Ontario to move to permanent daylight saving time starting November 1 to align with Manitoba, pending a regulatory change.
Ontario passed the Time Amendment Act, 2020, which would move the entire province to permanent daylight saving time, but it will only be proclaimed into force if Quebec and New York State do the same.
Do employers have to pay staff for the extra hour when the clocks fall back?
For hourly employees in jurisdictions where clocks still change, yes. They’re paid for the hours they actually work, so an eight-hour overnight shift that spans 2 a.m. becomes nine paid hours. Watch the overtime thresholds in your province or territory, as that hour can push a shift into overtime. Salaried employees’ pay usually doesn’t change, but their hours may still count toward overtime where they’re eligible.
Get the answers you need before the clocks change
When rules differ by jurisdiction, and you receive questions from your team, you don’t want to guess. With Live HR Advice, you get a Canadian HR advisor on the line to explain exactly what pay rules may apply, how to communicate the changes to your workers, and how to brief your managers before the clocks change.
Explore our HR and health and safety plans. See more on our pricing page.
Or book a demo today to learn more about our services and see our software in action.