Time change Nov. 1: where clocks go back in Canada

Updated Oct. 26, 2026

Clocks go back one hour at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, Nov. 1, in Ontario’s eastern time zone, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces, but not in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories or northwestern Ontario. Those places are skipping the fall change as they move to year-round time, joining Yukon and most of Saskatchewan, which already stay on one time all year.

The patchwork means the time gap between neighbouring provinces will shift on Nov. 1 even where nobody touches a clock. Here is where each province and territory stands, based on government announcements and reports published through Oct. 26.

British Columbia

B.C. will not change its clocks on Nov. 1. The province’s daylight saving time page calls the March 8 move ahead “the final time change in British Columbia” and says that on Nov. 1 “no change will be made.”

The province’s year-round time is Pacific Time, abbreviated PCT, which is UTC-7, the same offset B.C. used during daylight time. In a Sept. 17 news release, Citizens’ Services Minister Diana Gibson said the abbreviation “aligns with how other provinces abbreviate their time zones.”

There are local exceptions. Northeastern B.C., including Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and Fort Nelson, stays on mountain standard time, which matches PCT on the clock. The East Kootenay, including Cranbrook, Fernie and Invermere, stays aligned with Alberta at UTC-6 year-round. Golden makes its last change on Nov. 1, moving to mountain standard time at UTC-7, the provincial page says.

Alberta

Alberta officially moves to permanent “Alberta Time,” abbreviated ABT, on Nov. 1. The Alberta government’s page on the new time system says ABT is UTC-6, the same as the mountain daylight time Albertans have used since March, and that clocks will not be set back to mountain standard time.

The province warns that some older or unsupported devices may not update automatically and may need a manual adjustment. Alberta said it will gather feedback after its first full year on the permanent time.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan does not change its clocks. The Saskatchewan government’s time system page says the province observes central standard time year-round, with a time-option exception in the Lloydminster area.

Because central standard time is also UTC-6, Saskatchewan and Alberta will share the same clock time all year starting Nov. 1. The Northwest Territories will join them, CP24 reported.

Manitoba and northwestern Ontario

Manitoba will stay on daylight time. Premier Wab Kinew announced the decision in a Sept. 17 provincial news release, saying “we heard from Manitobans loud and clear – no more changing the clocks in Manitoba.”

The province said a May survey drew nearly 72,000 votes. Ninety-two per cent wanted the twice-yearly change to end, with 58 per cent preferring permanent daylight time and 34 per cent preferring permanent standard time.

Ontario said Oct. 13 that Kenora and other northwestern communities that keep Manitoba’s time will also stay on daylight time. The City of Kenora said on its website that the region will stay on central daylight time year-round starting Nov. 1, and that council backed the move unanimously on Oct. 9 after a community survey with more than 93 per cent support.

HR Reporter described the change as a proposed regulatory change under Ontario’s Time Act and quoted Attorney General Doug Downey as saying “providing certainty and predictability is essential to supporting strong communities and a competitive economy.” It reported that communities in the eastern time zone will keep changing their clocks twice a year.

Territories

The Northwest Territories announced Sept. 23 that it will stay on daylight time year-round and will not set clocks back on Nov. 1, CP24 reported. Premier R.J. Simpson said ending seasonal time change “gives residents what they’ve asked us for.”

Yukon stopped changing its clocks in 2020. A Yukon government news release dated Sept. 24, 2020, said the territory would stay at UTC-7 year-round starting Nov. 1, 2020.

Nunavut still changes its clocks, Daily Hive reported, and it spans three time zones.

Provinces that still change clocks

Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island turn their clocks back, and so do most of Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario’s eastern time zone, Daily Hive reported. None of those provinces had announced an end to seasonal changes in the sources reviewed for this article.

Ontario passed a law in 2020 that would make daylight time permanent, but Global News reported in April that it takes effect only if Quebec and New York act. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston told Global News the province is interested but would not move alone.

The change also lines up with other Nov. 1 shifts, including new time-of-use prices in Ontario’s electricity rates. Our winter forecast by region covers the season ahead, and Remembrance Day on Nov. 11 follows soon after, with paid-holiday rules by province.

Check your phone and computer on the weekend. Devices set to update automatically should adjust, but the Alberta government said some older or unsupported ones may not.

Sources: Government of British Columbia, Government of Alberta, Government of Saskatchewan, Government of Manitoba, the Government of Yukon and the City of Kenora.

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