WINNIPEG — Manitoba will keep clocks on daylight time year-round, Premier Wab Kinew announced Thursday, a move that ends the twice‑yearly time change for the province but has drawn concern from sleep medicine experts.
Survey guided decision, experts urge caution
The provincial government said the decision followed a public survey launched in May. Nearly 72,000 people responded and 92 per cent indicated they wanted an end to seasonal clock changes. Among those respondents, 58 per cent favoured permanent daylight time, the option that results in later evening daylight throughout the year.
While many welcomed the end to changing clocks twice a year, Dr. Michael Mak, a psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and clinical vice‑president of the Canadian Sleep Society, warned the choice of permanent daylight time could have negative health and educational effects.
“We really need to rethink this,” said Dr. Michael Mak. “Not having the change in times twice a year is a good thing. But I think as we progress into the winter months and have prolonged periods of no sunlight in the morning … that might lead to issues with academics and depression.”
Morning light and circadian rhythms
Mak explained that morning light helps stabilise the body’s circadian rhythm — the natural roughly 24‑hour internal clock that regulates sleep and other biological processes. He said reduced exposure to morning light can disturb nighttime sleep, reduce total sleep time and worsen mood and energy levels.
He added that the effect is more pronounced in adolescents, noting that in the depth of winter sunrise in Manitoba could be pushed close to 9 a.m., meaning many students would be travelling to school in darkness.
- Potential school impacts: poorer attendance, increased daytime sleepiness and more difficulty concentrating in class.
- Potential health impacts: disturbed sleep patterns, reduced total sleep time and heightened risk of depression.
- Demographic concerns: adolescents are particularly vulnerable to shifts in morning light exposure.
Historical context and next steps
For the first time since provincewide daylight time came into effect on May 12, 1963, Manitobans will not turn their clocks back to standard time this fall. The provincial announcement makes permanent the option that favours later evening light.
Officials with Manitoba Health or the premier’s office were not quoted directly in the material released alongside the announcement; details on implementation timelines, statutory changes or coordination with neighbouring jurisdictions were not provided in the report.
| Survey figure | Number / Share |
|---|---|
| Total votes submitted | 72,000 |
| Want end to seasonal time changes | 92% |
| Prefer permanent daylight time | 58% |
What Manitobans should know
Residents should be aware that permanent daylight time shifts the pattern of morning and evening light. Practical implications may include:
- Later sunrises in winter months — mornings may be darker for commuters and schoolchildren.
- Later sunsets year‑round, preserving more evening daylight for after‑work activities.
- Potential need for school boards, employers and parents to consider timing of morning activities and supports for young people.
Sleep specialists advise prioritising morning light exposure and limiting bright light late at night to help maintain healthy circadian rhythms. Specific local guidance from public health or education authorities may follow as the province implements the change.
The announcement shifts a long‑standing timekeeping practice in the province and is likely to prompt conversation among health professionals, educators, parents and businesses about how best to adapt.
Reporting from the province continues; WE NEWS will update readers as officials release further details and responses from local school divisions and health authorities.
