As the East Kootenay continues to grapple with issues around time zone observances, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has signalled that her province will look to adopt permanent daylight savings time.
Smith dropped the news in a recent interview with the Calgary Herald, as Alberta government officials have also teased that legislation should be forthcoming shortly.
Earlier in March, B.C. Premier David Eby announced the province will permanently adopt daylight savings time year-round, however, East Kootenay communities in the mountain time zone were not included.
The province has said that those affected communities can choose which time they wish to observe.
The Regional District of East Kootenay, comprised of a board of local government elected officials, has taken the lead to find consensus. The organization is in the middle of creating a public survey process to seek feedback from residents.
Alberta’s recent decision to move to permanent daylight savings time will not impact the survey process or content, according to the RDEK.
Regardless of the survey feedback, the province has indicated that local governments – individual communities – can choose which time they wish to observe, which has raised concerns for the potential of a confusing patchwork system throughout the region.
Christine Boyle, the B.C. Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, said it is up to locally elected leaders to make a time observance decision.
“The first place for that discussion would be at the regional district table and if they really continue to hit roadblocks, then I welcome them asking for our support,” said Boyle,
“But residents have good leaders around that table who they elected to represent them and I’m confident they’ll be able find a path forward together.”
Boyle added the province won’t intervene unless requested by local government leaders.
The minister also said the provincial government doesn’t have a preference for which time observance East Kootenay communities decide to follow, noting it is up to local leaders to make that decision.
– With files from Mark Page