The Manitoba government has announced that the province will remain on Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanently, meaning clocks will not be turned back one hour on November 1, 2026.
Premier Wab Kinew announced the decision on September 17 following a provincial consultation that received nearly 72,000 votes. According to the Manitoba government, 92 per cent of respondents wanted to end the twice-yearly clock changes, while 58 per cent preferred staying on permanent Daylight Saving Time compared with 34 per cent who preferred permanent Standard Time.
Manitoba’s Clocks Will Not Change on November 1
The biggest immediate change will happen on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
Under Manitoba’s previous system, clocks would have been turned back one hour at 2 a.m., changing from Central Daylight Time to Central Standard Time.
That will no longer happen.
Instead, Manitoba will remain one hour ahead of Central Standard Time throughout the winter. In practical terms, Manitoba will remain at UTC-5 year-round, although the official naming and technical representation of the new time zone will depend on how governments and technology providers implement the change.
We heard from Manitobans loud and clear – no more changing the clocks in Manitoba,” said Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew.
In 2026, Manitoba moved its clocks forward on March 8. Normally, November 1 would have been the date to move backward. Instead, November 1 will effectively become the point where Manitoba stops following the seasonal clock-change schedule. From that point forward, Manitobans will stay on permanent Daylight Saving Time.
Will Microsoft, Apple and Google Be Ready?
One of the biggest questions surrounding Manitoba’s decision is whether technology companies will have enough time to update their systems.
The announcement comes just over six weeks before Manitoba’s next scheduled clock change. That is a relatively short window for governments, businesses, software developers and technology providers to update systems that depend on time-zone rules.
Companies such as Microsoft, Apple and Google have systems designed to accommodate changes to time-zone and Daylight Saving Time rules, but those systems rely on updated time-zone data being distributed to devices and software.
Microsoft specifically says that many applications and cloud services rely on Windows’ underlying time-zone information. The company monitors changes announced by governments and distributes updates through Windows Update.
However, Microsoft also recommends that governments provide one year or more of advance notice for time-zone changes so updates can be engineered, tested and published before the new rules take effect.
That makes Manitoba’s timing particularly interesting.
Microsoft’s own guidance says that if there is insufficient lead time, it can provide interim guidance while a Windows update is prepared.
Apple devices similarly rely on time-zone information to automatically adjust clocks. Apple says iPhone and iPad users should keep their devices updated and connected to the internet, with automatic date and time enabled, so devices can receive updated time-zone information.
Google’s Android operating system also supports automatic time-zone updates, with devices able to use network and, where supported, location information to determine the correct time zone. Google Calendar also accounts for time-zone rules when displaying scheduled events.
The underlying issue goes beyond the clock displayed on your phone.
Time-zone information is used by computers, servers, smartphones, calendars, email systems, banking systems, transportation schedules, payroll systems, cloud applications and countless other pieces of software.
A change in the rules can therefore affect much more than whether your phone says 8:00 or 9:00.
The global technology industry also relies heavily on the IANA Time Zone Database, a widely used source of time-zone information. The database is regularly updated when governments change their time rules.
The good news is that Manitoba is not the first jurisdiction to make this kind of change, meaning technology companies already have experience handling permanent-time transitions.
Still, the short notice means Manitobans could potentially see some systems updated before others.
Older computers, specialized business software, embedded devices and systems that do not automatically receive updates could require additional attention.
For most consumers using modern iPhones, Android phones, Windows PCs and other regularly updated devices, automatic updates should eventually handle the change.
However, the timing of those updates is ultimately up to each technology provider.
Advantages of Permanent Daylight Saving Time
Supporters of permanent DST point to the extra hour of daylight in the afternoon and evening.
That can mean more daylight after work and school, potentially giving Manitobans more opportunities for outdoor recreation, shopping, dining and other activities.
The Manitoba government’s health analysis notes that research has found children can be more physically active when there is more evening daylight, and that additional evening daylight may encourage physical activity among Manitobans.
The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce has also supported the move, particularly because businesses will no longer have to deal with the twice-yearly clock adjustment.
Another potential advantage is eliminating the disruption caused by changing clocks twice every year. For families, the change can affect sleep schedules, meal times, school routines and work schedules.
Removing the clock change means Manitobans will no longer have to adjust their clocks and routines every March and November.
Disadvantages of Permanent Daylight Saving Time
The most obvious downside is that winter mornings will become darker.
In Winnipeg, a permanent DST schedule would mean a December 21 sunrise around 9:24 a.m. That could mean many children heading to school and adults heading to work before sunrise during the darkest part of the year.
The Manitoba Health analysis also notes that permanent DST shifts available winter daylight from the morning toward the afternoon and evening.
Health is another complicated part of the debate.
The Manitoba government’s analysis found that eliminating the twice-yearly clock change would be better for population health than maintaining the current system. It identified short-term health concerns associated particularly with the spring transition, including sleep disruption, traffic collisions, workplace injuries and cardiovascular events.
However, the report also cautions that the long-term health effects of staying permanently on Standard Time versus permanently on Daylight Saving Time are not well established.
The report concludes that there is no simple one-size-fits-all answer and that Manitoba’s northern latitude plays an important role in the effects of either approach.
Why Does Daylight Saving Time Exist?
Historically, Daylight Saving Time was introduced for very different reasons.
The basic idea was to shift the clock forward during the brighter months so people could make greater use of daylight during the evening. Canada actually has an important place in the history of Daylight Saving Time.
The community of Port Arthur, Ontario, now part of Thunder Bay, introduced a one-hour clock shift on July 1, 1908, often cited as the world’s first implementation of DST.
Winnipeg followed in 1916. At the time, the idea was associated with conserving energy, increasing productivity and giving people more daylight during the evening.
The system became particularly associated with wartime efforts, when governments looked for ways to conserve resources and increase productive daylight hours.
The argument today is therefore less about saving energy and more about whether society benefits from moving an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening.
How Manitoba’s Time Will Compare With Other Provinces
Manitoba’s decision puts it in an interesting position compared with other Canadian provinces and territories.
- Saskatchewan has remained on Standard Time year-round since 1966. That means most of Saskatchewan will remain one hour behind Manitoba throughout the year.
- Alberta is also moving toward permanent Daylight Saving Time, but its time zone is Mountain Time. Alberta’s permanent time will therefore be one hour behind Manitoba.
- British Columbia is moving to permanent daylight time, but will remain two hours behind Manitoba.
- Yukon has used a permanent UTC-7 time since 2020, while the Northwest Territories has also moved toward permanent time.
Ontario and Quebec provide another interesting comparison. Both continue to follow seasonal time changes, meaning Manitoba will line up with their Eastern Standard Time during the winter, when Manitoba is UTC-5.
During the summer, however, Ontario and Quebec move to Eastern Daylight Time, putting them one hour ahead of Manitoba.
That could make scheduling with Toronto and Montreal particularly interesting because the time difference will effectively reverse depending on the season.
What U.S. States Will Match Manitoba’s Time?
Manitoba’s new permanent UTC-5 schedule will also create some interesting relationships with the United States.
During the U.S. summer Daylight Saving Time period, Manitoba’s UTC-5 time will match the clock in much of the U.S. Central Time Zone.
That includes states such as Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, along with portions of other Central Time states.
During the U.S. winter, those states return to Central Standard Time and will be one hour behind Manitoba.
Manitoba’s permanent UTC-5 time will also match the clock used by U.S. Eastern Time Zone states during their winter Standard Time period. During the U.S. summer, Eastern states move to UTC-4 and become one hour ahead of Manitoba.
The result is that Manitoba’s time will not permanently match the same neighbouring jurisdictions throughout the year.
What Manitobans Should Do Before November 1
For most people, there may be very little they need to do.
Keep your phone, computer, tablet and other connected devices updated.
Apple, Google and Microsoft regularly distribute operating-system updates that include changes to time-zone information.
It is also a good idea to leave automatic date and time enabled on smartphones and computers.
Businesses should pay particular attention to systems that may not automatically receive updates, including older servers, specialized software, time clocks, scheduling systems, security systems and other equipment that relies on local time.
Organizations operating systems that are critical to payroll, financial transactions, transportation, healthcare or other time-sensitive operations may need to confirm that their vendors will support Manitoba’s new time-zone rules.
