Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is “very open” to eliminating seasonal time changes across the province, provided Quebec and neighbouring U.S. jurisdictions are on board. Kenora and northwestern Ontario remain permanently on daylight saving time, while the rest of the province still changes its clocks twice a year. Speaking to reporters at Queen’s Park Wednesday, Ford said Ontario would need to remain aligned with Quebec and New York because of their economic ties, particularly in the financial sector. “We have to be in line with Quebec and along the lines of New York for the financial sector. It just makes life easier,” Ford said. “This argument’s been going on for decades. If Quebec and New York and the Eastern Corridor of the U.S. want to do it, I’m all there.” Ford said he is open to discussions with Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon adding that a consensus is needed because Ottawa shares a border with Quebec. Last month, St-Pierre Plamondon said his government intended to abolish the time change, noting the province hasn’t yet decided whether to keep daylight time or standard time year-round. “So, am I open? I’m very, very open to discussions with the premier of Quebec,” Ford said. The majority of Western Canada no longer changes their clocks, with Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba now remaining permanently on daylight time as of this year. Ford pointed to those changes, saying the move toward aligning clocks with Ontario would help reduce time differences. “Manitoba and Western Canada, the reason they did it, they want to get closer to our time frame. They don’t want to be three hours behind,” he said.
