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- calendar_today October 14, 2026
Northwestern Ontario to Remain on Permanent Daylight Saving Time
Beginning November 1, 2023, northwestern Ontario will switch to permanent daylight saving time, resulting in a time zone distinction from the rest of the province. This change affects communities such as Kenora and regions west of Thunder Bay, which will no longer participate in the biannual clock change observed elsewhere in Ontario.
Reasoning Behind the Change
The Ontario government announced that maintaining permanent daylight saving time in the region allows for better alignment with Manitoba. Manitoba declared on September 17 that it would permanently observe daylight saving time, eliminating the need to set clocks back in the fall. The decision aims to prevent disruptions to businesses, workers, families, and Indigenous communities that have ties across the Ontario-Manitoba border.
Details of the New Time Zone Split
This shift means Ontario will continue to have two distinct time zones, divided by the 90th meridian cut. Communities and municipalities to the west of the 90th meridian, including Kenora, will remain on daylight saving time year-round, aligning with the central time zone of Manitoba. Conversely, areas east of the meridian, such as Thunder Bay, will continue traditional clock changes, remaining within the eastern time zone.
Consultation with Local Communities
The province stated it consulted with area residents, including Indigenous leaders and members, on whether the switch to permanent daylight saving time would work for their community. According to Greg Rickford, Ontario's minister responsible for Indigenous affairs, there was unanimous support across the region for the change. These consultations included business stakeholders and workers concerned with cross-border connections and trading relationships.
Economic and Social Alignment with Manitoba
Ontario’s Attorney General Doug Downey emphasized the financial and practical benefits of the manitoba time alignment. By staying on the same time as neighbouring Manitoba, northwestern Ontario can avoid unnecessary disruptions and maintain economic stability, especially for those in Ontario's central time zone. The coordinated time switch is also intended to support the uninterrupted daily life of families and Indigenous communities time across the provincial boundary.
Implications for Ontario’s Time Zones
This move formalizes a unique ontario time zones arrangement. Residents in the affected areas will no longer need to participate in the typical ontario clock change. Instead, from November 1, 2023, Kenora and communities west of the 90th meridian will keep their clocks on daylight saving time all year. Communities to the east, including Thunder Bay, will continue to observe daylight saving time changes, shifting their clocks in the spring and fall.
The adoption of permanent daylight saving time in northwestern Ontario marks a significant change for the region, balancing local needs with economic realities and cross-border connections.
Source: nowtoronto.com.
