A one page letter written by 6 researchers outlining possible health consequences of switching to daylight savings time an advocating for permanent standard time, dated October 2019
Letter signatories
Myriam Juda, PhD
Research Associate, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Lab, Psychology, SFU
Ralph Mistlberger, PhD
Professor, Psychology, SFU
Director, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Lab, Psychology, SFU
Andrea Smit, PhD, on behalf of the Canadian Society for Chronobiology (CSC)
Member of the CSC Board of Directors
Najib Ayas, PhD, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Associate Professor of Medicine, Sleep Disorders Program Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia
Judy Village, PhD, CCCPE
President, Association of Canadian Ergonomists
Adjunct Professor, School of Population and Public Health, UBC
Raymond Lam, PhD, MD, FRCPC
Professor and BC Leadership Chair in Depression Research
Associate Head of Research, Psychiatry, University of British Columbia Director Mood Disorders Center, Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health Executive Director, APEC Digital Hub for Mental Health
Open letter to the BC Gov in 2019 by BC researchers outlining potential health harms of a switch to permanent DST. Apparently this letter was ignored
05.03.2026 04:43 β
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π― thank you!
05.03.2026 01:34 β
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really tired of conversations about how we need to get people to spend more time offline that don't acknowledge that one of the reasons people ARE online is their access needs aren't being met in physical spaces. This is especially true for queer people and disabled people.
05.03.2026 00:52 β
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I'm limiting replies because I know everyone has "feelings" but I care about facts. One option will lead to circadian disruption which leads to worse mental health outcomes, insomnia, hypertension, road accidents, suicides, metabolic impacts, possibly also cancer
05.03.2026 01:21 β
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Excerpt from news release
Evidence suggests there are many benefits to ending the seasonal time change, including:
β’ more consistency and fewer disruptions to sleep patterns, school schedules, and daily routines
β’ more usable light in the evenings in winter, allowing more leisure time, participation in outdoor activities and
consumer activity
I think we know why they selected the option that is worse for our health. Follow the money π°
05.03.2026 01:16 β
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Adopting permanent daylight saving time
βSpring forwardβ on March 8 will be the last time change, ending twice-yearly clock changes
In the news release BC Gov put out announcing the switch to permanent daylight savings time, they cite a Stanford Medicine report to back up their decision, but the report actually says the opposite, that permanent standard time is better
news.gov.bc.ca/releases/202...
05.03.2026 01:14 β
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Regardless of how people "feel" about the change, I think decisions should be based purely on evidence. Ignoring science in favour of "feelings" is not smart government.
04.03.2026 12:47 β
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It would be great timing to set up an environmental epi study on this change. Maybe I'll try reaching out to Dr. Hall in this video to see if she knows of anyone studying this π€
04.03.2026 20:55 β
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Everyday it's like some version of *wake up*
*checks how our governments are trying to slowly kill us by not following science-aligned policy*
logs off
04.03.2026 20:24 β
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POSITION STATEMENTS | Save Standard Time
Numerous nonprofits and newspapers have statements for Standard Time.
I'm wondering who was consulted for this from a science standpoint and why your gov't chose to ignore the voices of all these sleep experts and scientific bodies, including the American Medical Association, who call for permanent standard time?
savestandardtime.com/statements/
04.03.2026 17:14 β
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This info isn't accurate. Studies of areas that have implemented DST show avg nightly sleep loss of 30 mins and no extra sunlight. I guess we just sit around and watch how sleep deprivation plays out at the population level
04.03.2026 17:06 β
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Newspaper clipping from βThe CourierβJournalβ of Louisville, Kentucky. Published on March 1, 1942. A letter to the editor.
Permanent Daylight Saving Time: βWe are groggy, sleepy, tired, and our work is harder, because we have lost the most important hours of sleep.β βOn this day in 1942.
01.03.2026 20:05 β
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Nice! Yeah lower mainlanders are effed!
04.03.2026 15:28 β
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Apparently Horgan's popularity poll on the BC time change this didn't even include an option for permanent standard time, just DST and the status quo. A bit rigged!
04.03.2026 15:23 β
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π― this!
04.03.2026 14:43 β
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Same guy, same week.
04.03.2026 14:18 β
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Headband for fun :-)
It's a podcast series on translational medicine and I can share with you once it's out in a month or two!
04.03.2026 06:34 β
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Population level public health policy should be based on evidence-based decision making, not "vibes" or popularity polls
04.03.2026 06:15 β
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This image describes the Canadian COVID Forecast for the fourteen-day period between Feb 28 - Mar 13, 2026, which is produced by COVID-19 Resources Canada. British Columbia's COVID Forecast outlook is MODERATE [no change] with a COVID INDEX SCORE of 4.4
About 1 of every 264 people is infected.
Estimated infections this week: 24,800-30,700
What these numbers mean: MODERATE 1-5, HIGH 5-10, VERY HIGH 10-15, SEVERE >15 COMPARED TO THE LOWEST POINT IN THE COVID PANDEMIC IN CANADA
How much higher are key indicators compared to the lowest point in the COVID pandemic in Canada?
Waste water, infections: MODERATE; 4.2X higher
Long COVID: HIGH; 5.4X higher
Hospitalizations: MODERATE; 4.9X higher
Deaths: MODERATE; 4.2X higher
HOW TO HELP:
EVERYONE:
UPDATE vaccines every 6 months
WEAR N95-type masks
Who is HIGH RISK?
People 60 and older, babies < 1 year, pregnant
ALL AGES: immunocompromised OR medically at-risk OR no vaccine or infection in the last 6 months
Recommendations are based on the COVID-19 Risk Index from the Peterborough ON Public Health Unit
COVID-19 Resources Canada is a grassroots organization of volunteer scientists supporting Canadian COVID responses. Sources, data and methods for the COVID Index are available at www.Covid19Resources.ca
Canadian COVID Forecast Feb 28 - Mar 13, 2026
BRITISH COLUMBIA
MODERATE [no change]
About 1 of every 264 people is infected.
Compared to lowest point of pandemic in Canada:
-Infections: 4.2 x higher
-Long COVID: 5.4 x higher
-Hospitalizations: 4.9 x higher
-Deaths: 4.2 x higher
04.03.2026 02:58 β
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Sign this Petition - Petitions
Sign the e-petition for Permanent Standard Time if you're in Canada π and interested in aligning our clocks with the best available scientific evidence on health & circadian rhythms
www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...
04.03.2026 05:33 β
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Also worried about the association between cancer and circadian disruption, but agree switching sucks!
04.03.2026 02:50 β
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It may not be better for people with mental health or pre existing conditions like hypertension/diabetes since circadian disruption is linked to worse outcomes in those groups & COVID is surely adding synergies π’
04.03.2026 02:49 β
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I don't think it's about night owl. Many people with depression or bipolar are night owls and can be quite harmed by this policy
04.03.2026 02:09 β
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Sunset time and the economic effects of social jetlag: evidence from US time zone borders
The rapid evolution into a 24 h society challenges individualsβ ability to conciliate work schedules and biological needs. Epidemiological research suβ¦
Studies using time zone borders show later sunset timing reduces sleep & is associated with worse cardiometabolic health. Permanent DST will push all of B.C. toward this 'social jet lag'
Really wish our govt would just follow evidence
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
04.03.2026 01:59 β
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