Whatever happened to Ontario’s plan to ditch time changes?

Remember all that talk about doing away with time changes? Well, here we go again.

The clocks are springing forward on Sunday morning at 2 a.m. even though Ontario passed a bill back in 2020 to permanently stay on Daylight Saving Time. So why has nothing happened?

The legislation passed in Ontario included a very important caveat – both Quebec and New York State had to make the move at the same time. The Ford government tells CityNews despite the legislation, nothing’s changed and they’re not willing to go it alone.

And in a rare move, this is one issue that opposition leaders are actually in agreement with.

“We voted for it, if New York does it, then we’re going to do it,” said Interim Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser. “As long as we’re all on the same page with it, that’s what works.”

“My personal preference is that we do not change the clocks in the spring and the fall,” Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said. “But I think for a whole variety of reasons we need to be coordinated with the surrounding jurisdictions.”

South of the border legislation that could put an end to the seasonal time change is slowly, but surely, moving ahead.

“Switching in and out of Daylight Saving Time is outdated and it’s only a source of annoyance and confusion, and frankly it’s just dumb, there’s no other way to say it,” said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

RELATED: Time change increases heart health risks: doctors

The U.S. Senate voted unanimously last year to permanently stick with Daylight Saving Time. But that bill ended up stalling in the House of Representatives. But just last week, a group of bipartisan Senators reintroduced the legislation. If it gets through both the Senate and the House, this weekend’s time change would be the final one in the United States — potentially paving the way for Canadian provinces to follow suit.

“We want an hour more for kids, farmers, people that want to stay outside, work in the yard. I think people deserve that,” said Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville.

Those in favour of a permanent move to Daylight Saving Time say it will lead to fewer car crashes, less energy use and improved health. Those against say the mornings would just be too dark during the months of December and January.

“I do like when spring comes and the sun stays up longer. Long nights in summer are a lot of fun,” said Fraser.

So for now, most provinces as well as the territories of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories will move their clocks ahead one hour early Sunday.

Yukon and most of Saskatchewan keep their clocks the same year-round. Yukon made the switch for the last time in March 2020, and standard time is now permanent there.

If nothing happens over the next few months, we will be in for another time change on Nov. 5.