British Columbia did not change its clocks on Nov. 1, leaving it out of step with neighbouring Washington state and affecting cross-border coordination, a research director said.
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For the first time in decades, British Columbians did not change their clocks on Nov. 1, after B.C. moved most of the province to permanent, year-round daylight time.
The change created a timing mismatch with neighbouring U.S. states, which rolled their clocks back while B.C. did not, said Laurie Trautman, director of the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University.
Trautman, who lives across the border in Bellingham, said Washington state and British Columbia ideally would have made the change together to preserve connectivity.
“It requires us to be a little bit more intentional, which in some ways could be good because I think we need to be a little bit more intentional these days about our cross-border connectivity,” Trautman said. “We're sort of losing some of it, so we have to work harder to maintain it now.”
She said border crossings could be affected, pointing in particular to shared data on wait times and crossing volumes.
The Canada Border Services Agency said it adjusted opening and closing times seasonally at nine land ports of entry in British Columbia to maintain alignment with neighbouring U.S. customs offices, and hoped the changes would allow for better co-ordination between the two countries.
The Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce is watching for impacts, according to newly appointed CEO Julie Sperber.
Sperber said that while confusion across the border may be occurring, it is difficult to gauge the economic impact in B.C. She said later sunsets could create opportunities, while darker mornings could be harder for people in the resource sector who need to be up and out early.
“I think there's both opportunities and challenges,” Sperber said.
Trautman said many of the effects may be felt by everyday travellers and workers, including people trying to cross the border or schedule a Zoom meeting with colleagues.
“Those of us who are aware of this, we're sort of building in that extra adjustment, but there's some systems that haven't yet caught up to the fact that we are now on different time,” Trautman said.
Other aspects of cross-border operations appear to be more manageable in the marine sector. Kimberly Kelly of the Port of Nanaimo said the port has experienced minimal issues and took a proactive approach to reduce confusion.
“Vessels crossing the Pacific routinely experience multiple time changes, while cargo owners, vessel operators, charters and other partners co-ordinate activities around the world,” Kelly said. “The maritime industry is well-accustomed to managing these differences as part of day-to-day operations.”
B.C.’s shift to permanent daylight time was announced in March by outgoing Premier David Eby, with the clock change taking effect Nov. 1.
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