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British Columbia stopped changing its clocks on November 1, 2026. But there's a catch: ending the twice-yearly switch and choosing which time to keep are two different questions.
In this episode, Neil Hedley talks with Dr. Ralph Mistlberger, a professor of psychology and circadian-rhythm researcher at Simon Fraser University, about why he believes permanent standard time is better aligned with our biology than permanent daylight time. Mistlberger is a co-author of a new Canadian Medical Association Journal analysis examining the potential health, education and economic trade-offs of these policies.
They explore how morning light resets the human body clock, why darker winter mornings may worsen the mismatch between biological time and school or work schedules, and what researchers mean by social jet lag. Their discussion also considers the political appeal of brighter evenings—and why popularity doesn't necessarily answer the biological question.
Most importantly, the conversation distinguishes between the disruption of changing clocks twice a year and the consequences of living on a particular time year-round. The CMAJ paper reviews evidence and identifies risks; it does not establish that every person will experience the same effects.
Further reading: Lam RW, Mistlberger R, Baylis P, Choi A. Analysis of health impacts associated with adopting permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time to inform policy in Canada, CMAJ (October 2026). B.C. government's announcement of permanent Pacific Time (UTC−7). Dr. Mistlberger's SFU profile.
In North America alone, there are about 100 million people with sleep issues. Maybe you’re one of them. Every week, veteran broadcaster Neil Hedley sits down with celebrities, high achievers and the world’s top neuroscientists to try and find answers to his own 50-year battle with sleep issues in the hope that he might find an answer that works for you, too.