Parts of northwestern Ontario will no longer observe daylight saving time changes starting November 1, as per the recent provincial announcement. This shift will align these regions with Manitoba, which made a similar decision last month. Greg Rickford, the Kenora-Rainy River MPP and Minister of Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs, mentioned that after consulting with local municipalities and First Nations in the area, it was decided to adopt permanent daylight saving time. Rickford highlighted that the majority of residents in northwestern Ontario preferred this change to synchronize activities with Manitoba due to their frequent interactions.
The adjustment will only impact areas within the central time zone of the region and will not affect eastern time zone communities like Thunder Bay. Ontario’s Attorney General, Doug Downey, emphasized the importance of providing stability and predictability for communities and the economy by aligning with Manitoba. Kenora Mayor Andrew Poirier expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating that the social and economic ties between Manitoba and northwestern Ontario make this change beneficial for both regions.
The move to permanent daylight saving time was also supported by Rick Dumas, the president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, who emphasized the practicality and positive outcomes of maintaining consistent time zones with Manitoba. Fort Frances Mayor Andrew Hallikas echoed similar sentiments, noting that the overwhelming response from resident surveys favored aligning with Manitoba for permanent daylight saving time. Sol Mamakwa, Kiiwetinoong MPP, emphasized the relief felt by the community in avoiding discrepancies between Ontario and Manitoba time zones, highlighting the collaborative effort across different parties to address this issue effectively.
