Ottawa: Most parts of Canada are preparing to return to standard time this Sunday by setting their clocks back one hour at 2:00 a.m. Local time. This marks the end of ‘Daylight Saving Time,’ which began in March to take advantage of longer periods of sunlight during the summer months. However, some areas, including northwestern Ontario, have decided to follow permanent year-round daylight time from now on. Provinces such as British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba are also preparing for similar shifts.
Governments argue that making this change permanent will help improve overall health, reduce disruptions to daily family routines, and provide an extra hour of light in the evenings. However, experts, including Patricia Lakin-Thomas, a biology professor at York University, warn that both the twice-yearly clock switch and permanent daylight saving time can negatively impact human health.
According to experts, ‘standard time’—waking up alongside natural sunrise—is best suited for the human body. Morning sunlight helps regulate the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the human brain, which controls the central circadian rhythm. Extended evening light often leads to sleeping later, resulting in sleep deprivation when waking up early for work or school.
Experts like Professor Lakin-Thomas and Ralph Mistlberger, a researcher at Simon Fraser University, point out that seasonal clock changes and the resulting body misalignment are linked to short-term spikes in heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents. In the long run, this persistent stress increases the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer. Consequently, the scientific consensus suggests that staying on permanent year-round ‘standard time’ without seasonal shifts would be the healthiest choice for the human body.
