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Bell: Smith's critics rip the premier for Alberta going daylight time year-round

Smith's naysayers once again slam the premier. This time it's over her daylight time decision

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As Alberta Premier Danielle Smith tells it, when she asked a crowd of a thousand people last week whether they wanted to stop changing the time on the clocks twice a year almost every hand in the room went up.

Bell: Smith's critics rip the premier for Alberta going daylight time year-round Back to video

When the issue was whether to go to daylight or standard time year-round she says there was a split in the room.

Smith and her UCP government have decided to have Alberta on daylight time all year.

There will be a debate in the legislature and, because Smith’s UCP hold the majority of the votes in the legislature, we know what is going to happen.

Daylight time year-round. Alberta time.

With that news, some folks hit the roof.

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas is one of them.

He urges Smith to hold a referendum vote on whether we should stop changing clocks twice a year if that’s the route she wants to go.

“Unlike other orders of government we respect the will of the voters,” says Farkas.

The mayor says it is “troubling” to hear provincial or federal politicians “musing about overriding the will of the voters.”

There was a referendum vote in Alberta five years ago.

The wording of the question was: “Do you want Alberta to adopt year-round Daylight Savings Time, which is summer hours, eliminating the need to change our clocks twice a year?”

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The No side won with 50.2 per cent of the vote. With more than a million votes cast, the No side won by around 5,000 votes.

“We should be honouring those results. This is a complete waste of time regardless of where you stand.”

Smith says Alberta MLAs will debate moving to permanent daylight time — again

What's the deal with daylight time in Alberta?

Farkas says he doesn’t “have a horse in this race.”

“I don’t really care about us changing the clocks back and forth.”

The Calgary mayor said in the 2021 referendum he voted to stop changing the clocks.

“But Albertans had their say. As someone on the losing side I was willing to support the will of Albertans.”

Farkas then steps up and jabs at the Smith government.

The mayor says he understands the issue is “a big talker.”

“I understand this is the number one priority of our premier right now, somehow.”

Oh my. The majority of self-styled progressives who did not vote for Farkas in the last election will love that shot.

“If they think we got it wrong, the voters here in Alberta, take it to another vote.”

Enter Naheed Nenshi, a former Calgary mayor and now the leader of the Alberta NDP.

Nenshi, taking a break from accusing Smith of wanting to rig the next Alberta election, says Smith should hold a public consultation on the changing clocks issue.

Nenshi adds the province should be talking to experts.

It sounds like the Alberta NDP is also pretty upset because Smith did not release her plans in the legislature.

Instead the premier talked to me.

Smith said we’re in daylight time for eight months of the year already and she has considered the pros and cons of the daylight and standard time options.

Smith said she believes most Albertans are tired of changing clocks.

She also believes most Albertans want daylight time because they do not want to lose light in the evening, particularly in the spring and summer.

“It would mean less daylight for barbecue season when we want to be outside, at the park, playing sports and taking advantage of the great weather.”

When asked, Smith is fully aware going with daylight time and not standard time means winter mornings will be dark longer.

Smith feels there is a trade-off and feels most people want more evening sunlight.

She also figured in her decision the fact Alberta’s neighbouring provinces are not changing their clocks.

Nenshi says going to daylight time without a referendum “might feel like a small issue but this tells you a lot about the premier.”

The chorus of critics was the predictable cast of characters. There are few, if any, surprises.

Most of these naysaying voices demand a referendum and the fact Smith wasn’t having one is evidence to them of how the premier is trampling on democracy.

The voices say Smith made the wrong choice. It should be standard time.

What is the greater sin, not going with the referendum or not going with standard time?

Deep thinkers chime in and offer their opinion. What do they think? Take a guess.

Smith is on the wrong side — again.

The day ends with a lot of those types on social media having another reason to be angry.

Funny how something so many sorts has said is really no big deal is now a big deal.

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