Manitoba news — Premier Wab Kinew has settled the Manitoba Daylight Saving Time debate for good: the province will never change its clocks again. Starting this November, the province stays on daylight saving time permanently, trading darker winter mornings for brighter evenings all year round.
By Maplestime News Desk | Winnipeg, Manitoba | September 19, 2026
Sources: Canadian HR Reporter, Global News | Last updated: September 19, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Manitoba will not turn clocks back on November 1, 2026 — the province is moving to permanent daylight saving time.
- A May 2026 public survey drew nearly 72,000 responses; 92% wanted an end to seasonal clock changes, and 58% preferred permanent daylight time.
- The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce backs the move, saying it cuts friction for companies working across provincial borders.
- Under permanent daylight time, the shortest day of the year will see sunset at 5:30 p.m. — but sunrise won’t come until 9:24 a.m.
What Kinew Announced
Premier Wab Kinew confirmed the Manitoba Daylight Saving Time decision Thursday, September 17, in an interview with 680 CJOB: Manitoba is done with the twice-a-year clock change. When the rest of the country falls back on November 1, Manitoba’s clocks will stay put.
“We heard from Manitobans loud and clear – no more changing the clocks in Manitoba. Permanent daylight saving time is good for our health, good for business and good for parents,” Kinew said.
The Manitoba government says it is working with organizations, businesses and industry partners on the rollout. An analysis by Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care concluded that eliminating the time change benefits population health more than keeping the status quo.
What 72,000 Manitobans Told the Province
This wasn’t a decision made in a vacuum. A public survey on Manitoba Daylight Saving Time conducted in May 2026 by Prairie Research Associates drew nearly 72,000 responses — a massive turnout for a provincial consultation.
The results were decisive: 92% of respondents wanted an end to seasonal clock changes. Of those, 58% preferred permanent daylight saving time, compared to 34% who wanted permanent standard time. Kinew’s government went with the majority.
Manitoba Daylight Saving Time: What It Means for Your Evenings
The practical effect of Manitoba Daylight Saving Time is simple: brighter evenings, darker mornings, all winter long.
- Longest day (June 21): sunrise 5:20 a.m., sunset 9:41 p.m.
- Shortest day (December 21): sunrise 9:24 a.m., sunset 5:30 p.m.
That December sunrise — nearly 9:30 in the morning — is the trade-off nobody should ignore. Kids will walk to school in the dark for months. But for everyone who has cursed a 4:30 p.m. winter sunset, this is the win they asked for.
Related: Manitoba’s Legislature Has a Decorum Problem — And This Week Made It Impossible to Ignore
The Business Case: Why the Chamber Is Cheering
Loren Remillard, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the announcement: “Ending the twice-a-year clock change reduces friction for companies working across provincial borders and offers all Manitobans greater predictability and stability.”
There is a real payroll angle here too. The shift removes the biannual scheduling headache for overnight-shift payroll. But national employers aren’t off the hook — with other provinces still switching clocks, companies operating across Canada will need dual scheduling logic for part of the year.
Which Provinces Already Did This
Manitoba isn’t blazing this trail alone. British Columbia, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Alberta and Saskatchewan are already on — or moving to — a permanent time standard. The country is slowly converging, province by province, even if Ottawa has never forced the issue nationally.
Manitoba Daylight Saving Time: What Happens Next
The government says the Manitoba Daylight Saving Time transition work with businesses and organizations is already underway. Come November 1, when the clocks go back everywhere else, Manitoba simply won’t join in. Set your watches, tell your group chats, and enjoy that 5:30 p.m. December sunset.
Maplestime will provide updates on Manitoba’s move to permanent daylight saving time as the November transition approaches.
Have a tip about this story? Email [email protected]
Have a correction? Email [email protected]
Did Manitoba pick the right time — or should the province have gone with permanent standard time instead? Tell us in the comments. And share this with every Manitoban who is tired of changing their clocks.
