As clocks turn back this weekend, most people want an end to time change

It’s time to fall back this weekend. Daylight savings time ends Sunday at 2 a.m. and we will be getting an extra hour of sleep.

After the clocks go back, the sun will begin setting in North Bay at around 4:58 p.m.

On Dec. 21, the shortest day of the year, the sun will set in the city at about 4:33 p.m.

While for most people, it’s just a matter of adjusting your body clock, for others the disruption can be serious.

Psychiatrist Dr. Raymond Lam said the constant clock change can be linked to depression because of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

“More people would have Seasonal Affective Disorder with permanent Daylight Saving Time and people with seasonal affective disorder would feel worse,” said Lam, a professor of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia.

The Ontario government passed legislation in 2020 to make daylight savings time permanent in the province. However, the legislation will only come into effect if Quebec and New York State do the same thing.

Researchers suggest moving to a permanent standard time is actually much healthier for our bodies.

“Our biological clock gets misaligned with the sun clock and that’s because our sleep and social rhythms are controlled by the clock and are more synchronized with the sunrise,” said Lam.

A majority of people CTV News spoke to say it’s time to end the clock change and have one standard time throughout the year.

“It’s a pain to pull down all my clocks and change the little dials constantly twice a year,” said one woman.

“It’d be nice to get off the time change,” said one man.

“It’s a real pain in the butt when you get off work at 5 o’clock and it’s dark out.”

The North Bay Fire Service is reminding people when changing your clocks and watches also to check the batteries in smoke detectors at the same time.

“The Province of Ontario is on pace for its worst-ever year for fire fatalities,” said North Bay Deputy Fire Chief Greg Saunders.

“Our message is to do what needs to be done to keep your family safe.”

Daylight saving time is set to start again on March 12, 2023.