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Letter: When will democracy prevail on daylight savings?

'The idea that the largest majority vote in British Columbia’s history is going unfulfilled because of business concerns makes a mockery of democracy'
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Daylight saving time change, spring forward

This letter was sent to Premier David Eby, and shared with Pique.

As I wake up today, feeling the effects of the recent time change, I find myself wondering once again when the democratic will of the people of British Columbia will be respected.

In 2019, an overwhelming 93 per cent of British Columbians voted to eliminate the biannual time change. Yet, here we still are, subjected to the disruptive and outdated practice.

The argument that the change cannot be implemented due to potential business disruption with Washington, Oregon, and California is, frankly, not convincing. Businesses operate across time zones all the time. If businesses can manage time differences with countries across the world, surely they can handle a single hour’s difference with a neighbouring province.

The idea that the largest majority vote in British Columbia’s history is going unfulfilled because of business concerns makes a mockery of democracy. It is time to respect the wishes of the people and implement the elimination of daylight savings now.

Peter Skeels // Pemberton