An international decision to retire leap seconds will simplify precise timekeeping, ending decades of adjustments to keep clocks aligned with Earth's rotation.

An international decision to retire leap seconds will simplify precise timekeeping, ending decades of adjustments to keep clocks aligned with Earth's rotation.

The Globe and Mail editorial discusses the recent decision by several western Canadian provinces to adopt permanent daylight saving time, a move that has created confusion in timekeeping systems. Starting last weekend, the national atomic clocks' time display became one hour off for western provinces like Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba, which chose not to observe the seasonal time change. This decision, made without coordination with neighboring jurisdictions, has led to significant practical challenges. The provinces' choice to remain on summer time year-round means residents experience darker mornings, with sunrise in Edmonton not occurring until nearly 10 a.m. during winter months. The editorial notes that this approach contradicts research showing that clock changes, particularly the spring adjustment, are linked to health issues including increased rates of strokes and heart attacks. While the provinces claim to have consulted public opinion, the editorial argues that the decision was made without considering the broader implications for cross-border business with the United States, where most states still observe seasonal time changes. The piece also references historical context, noting that previous attempts to make daylight saving time permanent in the U.S. and Russia were abandoned due to public dissatisfaction with being out of sync with natural daylight patterns. The editorial concludes that the western provinces' approach to timekeeping is misguided, as it attempts to control time rather than align with natural cycles, ultimately leading to more problems than solutions for residents and businesses alike.