Sep 22, 2026
Manitoba will no longer turn its clocks back this fall, permanently locking the province into Daylight Saving Time and delivering a potential windfall for local businesses.
Premier Wab Kinew confirmed the decision during an interview with 680 CJOB, putting an end to the biannual custom of adjusting clocks.
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“Those days are over. The days of time change are done,” Kinew told CJOB, ending months of speculation over whether the province would align with its regional neighbours or maintain the status quo.
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The shift follows a provincial consultation carried out by Prairie Research Associates, which revealed that 92% of respondents wanted an end to seasonal time changes. Given the choice between standard and daylight time, 58% favoured permanent Daylight Saving Time, while 34% voted for permanent Standard Time.
Economic upside of lighter evenings
While public fatigue with time shifts drove much of the support, business groups and economists point to potential commercial advantages. Extra daylight during peak post-work hours historically encourages consumer spending, particularly in the retail, hospitality and recreation sectors.
In Winnipeg, winter afternoons under permanent Daylight Saving Time will see the sun set at 5:30 p.m. on the shortest day of the year instead of 4:30 p.m. That additional hour of evening light encourages commuters to run errands, dine out or participate in outdoor activities after work rather than heading straight home in total darkness.
Retail analyst groups have long noted that daylight directly influences foot traffic. Lighter early evenings tend to drive spontaneous shopping trips and boost patio dining during shoulder seasons, providing a reliable lift for local storefronts.
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Health experts weigh in on trade-offs
While businesses may welcome the change, health professionals highlight both benefits and drawbacks.
Eliminating the twice-yearly clock shift avoids the immediate spikes in fatigue, workplace injuries and cardiovascular issues often documented in the days following a time change. However, permanent daylight time comes at the expense of morning light during the winter months.
On Dec. 21, Winnipeg residents will not see the sunrise until 9:24 a.m.
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Diana McMillan, a registered nurse and professor at the University of Manitoba’s College of Nursing, notes that while avoiding seasonal clock shifts is a win, the loss of morning light requires monitoring.
“The morning sun is what helps to set our circadian rhythm,” McMillan told Global News, adding that sunlight affects sleep patterns, blood pressure regulation and overall alertness.
“We need to follow up and see, how are we doing as a province? Is it having the positive effects on our economy, on our health, on our mental wellbeing that we anticipated, or not?” McMillan said.
A changing time zone landscape
The decision places Manitoba alongside Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon in abandoning seasonal time adjustments.
It also reshapes the region’s operational alignment. Manitoba will remain one hour ahead of Saskatchewan and Alberta year round, and two hours ahead of B.C.
For eastern markets, Manitoba will share the same time as Ontario and Quebec during the winter months, before falling one hour behind when those provinces shift to Daylight Saving Time in the spring.
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Leslie Kennedy served as an editor at Thomson Reuters and for Star Media Group, followed by a number of years as a writer and editor and content manager in marketing communications, before returning to her editorial roots. She is a graduate of Humber College’s post-graduate journalism program and has been a professional writer and editor ever since.
