daylight saving time: did we really understand what we were choosing?

It's November, and British Columbia has made a major change to how we keep time. We are moving to permanent daylight saving time, meaning no more changing our clocks twice a year.

But there's something about this decision that deserves a closer look.

Remember the provincial consultation in 2019?

The government reported that 93% of respondents supported staying on daylight saving time permanently.

That sounds fairly decisive. But what exactly were people asked?

The main survey presented two choices:

1. Continue changing clocks twice a year.
2. Stay on daylight saving time permanently.

There was a third option that wasn't included in the main survey: permanent standard time.

Why does that matter?

Because these choices have very different consequences, particularly during the winter months.

What does permanent daylight saving time mean for Vancouver?

Around the winter solstice in December, sunrise will be approximately 9:05 a.m., while sunset will be around 5:15 p.m.

Think about that for a moment.

Children getting ready for school in darkness. Parents heading to work before the sun comes up. People commuting, walking, cycling and waiting for buses in the dark well into the morning.

Yes, we gain more light in the evening, but we also push morning daylight later.

There were actually three choices worth comparing:

• Permanent daylight saving time: darker mornings, lighter evenings.
• Permanent standard time: brighter mornings, earlier sunsets.
• Changing clocks twice a year: the system we previously had.

Sleep researchers have also raised concerns about permanent daylight saving time because standard time more closely follows our natural circadian rhythms.

So here's my question.

If the government wanted public input, why weren't all three options presented equally?

Why weren't people shown actual sunrise and sunset times for December, January and June?

Why wasn't there a simple visual comparison showing what daily life would look like under each option?

A survey can produce a very impressive percentage, but the quality of a public decision depends on the information people receive before answering.

This isn't about blaming people for choosing what sounded appealing. Most of us like sunshine after work. I certainly understand that.

But there's a difference between asking people whether they want more evening daylight and helping them understand that winter mornings could remain dark until after 9 a.m.

Public consultation should mean informed participation, not simply choosing between the options put in front of us.

And perhaps that's the bigger lesson here.

When governments ask the public to make decisions that affect everyday life, shouldn't we be given the whole picture?

What do you think? Did you understand what permanent daylight saving time would mean for our winter mornings?

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