MS. LINDA LARSON

BILL M 210 – 2017

INTERPRETATION AMENDMENT ACT, 2017

Studies continue to be published about the negative impacts on our health of the changing of our clocks forward or backwards one hour, studies that have documented an increase in both heart attacks and car accidents in the days immediately following the time shift. Studies have also identified losses to the economy from a lack of productivity directly related to the time shift.

The practise of moving our clocks forward and back began in 1918 as a way to use less coal during the First World War. People did not like it and it was phased out again after the Second World War and then uniformly reinstated across North America in the 1960s.

The City of Grand Forks introduced a resolution at the Union of BC Municipalities annual convention to eliminate Daylight Savings Time which was endorsed by the membership. A subsequent online survey showed 85% of responders were supportive of the elimination of Daylight Savings time.

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

1 Section 26 (a) of the Interpretation Act, R.S.B.C., 1996, c. 238, is repealed.

2 Section 25 (7) is amended by striking out ", unless Daylight Saving time is being used or observed on that day".

3 The Interpretation Act Daylight Saving Time Regulation, B.C. Reg. 136/2006 is repealed.

Consequential Amendments

Community Charter

4 Section 3 of the Schedule of the Community Charter, S.B.C. 2003, c. 26, is amended by striking out "Mountain Daylight Time" in both places and by striking out ", as applicable".

Election Act

5 Section 56 (3) of the Election Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 106, is amended by striking out "or Pacific Daylight time, as applicable".

6 Section 75 (3) is amended by striking out "or Pacific Daylight time, as applicable".

7 Form 1 of the Schedule is amended by striking out "[Pacific Daylight Time]" wherever it appears.

Local Government Act

8 Section 3 of the Local Government Act, S.B.C. 2003, c. 60, is amended by striking out "or Mountain Daylight Time" wherever it appears and by striking out ", as applicable".

Vancouver Charter

9 Section 194 of the Vancouver Charter, S.B.C. 1953, c. 55, is amended by striking out "prescribe a period in each year for which the time for general purposes in the city shall be seven hours behind Greenwich time, and".

Wildfire Act

10 Schedule 3 of the Wildfire Act, Wildfire Regulation, B.C. Reg. 38/2005, is amended by striking out "PDT (Pacific Daylight Saving Time)" wherever it appears and substituting "PST (Pacific Standard Time)".

11 A reference in any Act, other than this Act, or in any regulation, rule, order, by-law, agreement or other instrument or document, to "Pacific Daylight Time, Pacific Daylight time or PDT" shall be read unless the context otherwise requires, as a reference to "Pacific Standard Time, Pacific Standard time or PST."

 
Explanatory Note

Studies continue to be published about the negative impacts on our health of the changing of our clocks forward or backwards one hour, studies that have documented an increase in both heart attacks and car accidents in the days immediately following the time shift. Studies have also identified losses to the economy from a lack of productivity directly related to the time shift.

The practise of moving our clocks forward and back began in 1918 as a way to use less coal during the First World War. People did not like it and it was phased out again after the Second World War and then uniformly reinstated across North America in the 1960s.

The City of Grand Forks introduced a resolution at the Union of BC Municipalities annual convention to eliminate Daylight Savings Time which was endorsed by the membership. A subsequent online survey showed 85% of responders were supportive of the elimination of Daylight Savings time.