Ontario to officially abandon Daylight Saving Time but only in part of the province

Ontario plans to permanently lock in daylight saving time next month, but only in some parts of the province.

The provincial government announced on Tuesday that it intends to make daylight saving time permanent in Kenora and other regions of northwestern Ontario.

The change will align these portions of the province with neighbouring Manitoba, which announced in September that it would permanently end clock changes on Nov. 1, 2026.

According to the province, the proposed regulatory change will take effect Nov. 1, 2026 "to ensure there is no disruption for businesses, families and Indigenous communities in Ontario's central time zone."

"Providing certainty and predictability is essential to supporting strong communities and a competitive economy," said Attorney General Doug Downey. 

"By keeping this part of the province aligned with Manitoba, our government is taking a practical, common-sense approach to avoid unnecessary disruptions and ensure economic stability in communities that reside in Ontario's central time zone."

In a press release, provincial officials state that aligning the time change with Manitoba will help businesses and services operate more efficiently across provincial borders.

"Through the collective efforts of communities and First Nations across the northwest, we've led a process to build consensus the right way, with detailed and nuanced considerations," said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships. 

"What has emerged is unanimous support across the region to move to permanent daylight saving time, and our government is proud to support the people of northwestern Ontario as we make this decision, together."

The proposed change will effectively split Ontario into two time zones, with communities in the affected region located west of the 90th meridian no longer required to turn their clocks back by one hour on Nov. 1. These communities would share time with the rest of Ontario during winter months.

The Ontario government states that the move follows "considerable" engagement with communities through the affected portion of the province.