Daylight Saving Time 2025 Start Dates in Ontario and Canada, and Could Donald Trump End the Time Change?

Understanding Daylight Saving Time: The Shift, the Debate, and the History Behind It

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is upon us again, and in 2025, Canadians will spring forward on Sunday, March 9. At 2 a.m., clocks will be set forward one hour, meaning we’ll lose an hour of sleep, but gain longer, sunnier evenings for the months ahead. It’s that time of year when we adjust our clocks and reset our schedules, but the practice of DST is more complicated than simply changing the time.

What is Daylight Saving Time, and Why Do We Do It?

The primary goal of Daylight Saving Time is to make better use of daylight during the longer days of spring and summer. By moving the clocks forward in the spring, we extend the daylight hours in the evening, allowing more people to enjoy natural light after work or school. While it seems simple, the practice of changing time twice a year has sparked plenty of debate over the years. Some argue that the practice is outdated and unnecessary, while others believe it still serves a vital purpose.

When Does Daylight Saving Time Start in Canada?

In 2025, Canada will begin observing Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, March 9. At 2 a.m. local time, Canadians will move their clocks forward to 3 a.m., effectively losing an hour of sleep. This shift marks the beginning of the daylight-saving period, which will continue until the first Sunday of November, when clocks will fall back by one hour.

The Controversy: Should We Continue Daylight Saving Time?

While many people look forward to the longer daylight hours in the spring and summer, Daylight Saving Time is not without its controversies. In recent years, there have been growing calls to abolish the time change altogether. Ontario, for instance, passed a law in 2020 to end the practice, but the change has yet to take place. The province’s plan hinges on neighboring Quebec and New York state also eliminating DST, so the shift could be a long time coming.

Even former U.S. President Donald Trump voiced his dissatisfaction with the time change. Trump expressed his frustration on Truth Social, stating that Daylight Saving Time was “inconvenient” and “costly to our nation.” However, despite his intentions, it remains unclear when or if any legislation will be passed to eliminate DST in the United States.

Should the U.S. decide to end DST, it remains uncertain whether Ontario would follow suit, or if the province would continue to observe the time change until Quebec also made a decision. In 2024, Quebec launched public consultations to gauge public opinion on the matter, but there was no indication whether the province would take steps to make any changes.

Which Canadian Provinces Do Not Observe Daylight Saving Time?

While the majority of Canada observes Daylight Saving Time, not all provinces and territories follow suit. Saskatchewan and Yukon are two regions where DST is not observed. Additionally, several communities in other provinces, including parts of northwestern Ontario, do not change their clocks twice a year.

Global Perspective: The Global Debate on Daylight Saving Time

Interestingly, fewer than 40% of the world’s countries observe Daylight Saving Time. In North America, eight countries practice DST, while 11 have stopped doing so, and 20 countries have never observed it. Moreover, not all countries change their clocks on the same dates. Canada and the United States follow similar schedules for the spring-forward and fall-back transitions.

The History of Daylight Saving Time in Canada

Daylight Saving Time has a long history in Canada. The country first adopted the practice in 1918 during World War I, following Germany’s lead. The German government initiated DST to conserve energy by reducing the use of electric lighting and fossil fuels. By shifting the clocks forward, people could take advantage of more daylight hours during working hours, and the energy savings would benefit the war effort.

Following the end of World War I, Canada discontinued DST but reintroduced it during World War II for similar reasons. While the nation as a whole first observed DST in 1918, the very first instance of the time change in Canada occurred a decade earlier in Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay), Ontario. On July 1, 1908, the community moved its clocks forward by one hour, only to reverse the change on September 1 of the same year. However, this practice was not continued annually.

Canada Start Daylight Saving 2025: Everything You Need to Know About Spring Forward

Final Thoughts To Change or Not to Change?

As we approach another round of Daylight Saving Time in 2025, the debate continues. While many enjoy the extra daylight hours, the impact on sleep patterns, health, and productivity is not insignificant. The future of DST in Canada and around the world remains uncertain, as public opinion continues to evolve, and neighboring countries such as the U.S. and Quebec reconsider their positions.

For now, we will continue to adjust our clocks twice a year, but whether that will remain the case in the years to come is still up in the air. Whether you’re a fan of the extra daylight or wish we could skip the time change altogether, one thing is certain—Daylight Saving Time is a tradition that may be on the verge of transformation.