'It's going to be harder for us': Expert warns Albertans against permanent daylight saving time
As Albertans began the process to elect their mayors, councillors and school trustees in advance polls this week, their premier found himself defending the two referendum questions the province included in this year's municipal vote.
Among the two questions, the Alberta electorate is being asked to choose whether to continue the ritual of rotating between standard and daylight saving time (DST), or to stick with DST all year.
But one circadian rhythm expert from the University of Calgary told CTV News Edmonton that question itself is flawed.
"We've been presented with two bad choices," Dr. Michael Antle said. "A bad one and a worse one."
Dr. Antle has been advocating for years to get rid of the bi-annual clock change, but says the province should be moving to get rid of DST and stick with standard time instead.
"We know that (the time changes) do cause harm and it's absolutely killing me to be advocating for them right now, because I know how bad they are."
According to Dr. Antle, a year-round DST would be worse for Albertans than the system they have now.
"Because of where Alberta is, relative to the time zones we follow, it's going to be harder for us," he said.
"Because we're so far north we have really short days, which means we're going to feel any adverse effects of being on the wrong time even more."
According to CTV News Edmonton Chief Meteorologist Josh Classen, a permanent DST would mean the sun wouldn't rise in Edmonton in December until around 9:40 a.m.
"And across the north (of Alberta) the sun doesn't come up until around 10 in the morning," said Classen.
Despite that fact, one Grande Prairie, Alta., city councillor worries many of his constituents don't understand the stakes of the permanent DST question.
"Just from my own personal conversations, I would say it's probably about 40 per cent of our people who understand the implications of this," Coun. Chris Thiessen told CTV News Edmonton.
Experts say the extra darkness in the morning can cause circadian disruption in our brains, a phenomenon commonly experienced by shift workers.
A 2017 study by the American Association for Cancer Research found circadian disruption, which is worse for people in the western part of a given time zone, was linked to increased rates of cancer.
Circadian misalignment can also lead to shorter sleeps, which multiple studies have linked to increased rates of diabetes, obesity and workplace injuries.
Still, on Tuesday, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney defended the referendum question, saying it would be the best way to stay in line with neighbouring jurisdictions.
B.C., Washington, Oregon and California are all moving toward a permanent DST, meaning a year-round standard time for Alberta would separate the time zones even further.
"I think it would be imprudent for Alberta to go in the opposite direction," Kenney said.
The province says a majority 'yes' vote on the permanent DST referendum question would mean the change would come into effect by next fall at the earliest.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Dan Grummett
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.