The ritual of changing the clocks twice a year to allow for daylight time could end if an Ontario MPP has his way.
Conservative MPP Jeremy Roberts of Ottawa West-Nepean has introduced a private members' bill, which would end the practice of changing the clocks. The introduction of the bill was first reported by 680 News in Toronto.
Bill 214 calls for amendments to the Mining Act, the Labour Relations Act, and the Elections Act, which would change the wording to reflect daylight time being in effect year-round.
Roberts said the bill will end an archaic practice, and will only take effect if similar measures on the table in Quebec and New York State are approved.
"I see this as an important first step toward fulfilling the public's overwhelming desire to end this out-of-date practice," said Roberts in a media release. "I believe that by showing leadership in taking this step, Ontario can encourage our counterparts in Quebec and New York State to take similar action so that, together, we can put this issue to bed, and all be better rested for it."
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Roberts cited studies showing the benefits of having permanent daylight time, indicating that the time changes raise the risk of people suffering from depression and anxiety, as well as having heart attacks and strokes, or being more likely to have a serious vehicle crash.
The bill also suggested that Ontario businesses may benefit from having additional daylight in the evening hours.
Daylight saving time is the concept of turning clocks forward one hour every March, then turning them back in early November. The practice has been around for over a century, with the Ontario communities of Port Arthur and Orillia among the first to observe it, in the early 1910s.
More on Bill 214 can be found at the Ontario Legislature's official website.