PAGE 11 Thursday, November 2, 2023 MERIDIAN SOURCE
Opinion
Leeway from Lloyd: Time changes create chaos STAFF WRITER GEOFF LEE
What time is it? That’s what a lot of people on both sides of the Lloydminster border may be asking this Sunday. Everyone in the city will set their clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. on Nov. 5 in sync with Alberta switching from daylight saving time (DST) to standard time. Folks who live in most other parts of Saskatchewan stick with central time year-round which is one hour
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But it does matter. We may forget this money does not belong to the government, whether it be federal or provincial. It is ours. The fund is the result of the con-
ahead of where it should be on solar time—effectively on DST year-round. Falling back one hour every fall in Alberta when Saskatchewan doesn’t, can create a lot of confusion and annoyance making appointments, conducting business and travelling to and fro across the border. Employees in Alberta working a shift through 2 a.m. when the clock goes back an hour won’t be getting an extra hour’s pay. According to the government, overtime compensation shall apply when an employee, on the morning
tributions of individual Albertans and their employers, along with a considerable amount of interest due to the wise investing of the CPP investment managers. As the owners of the fund, we have the right
of that day, works more than nine hours in the case of a 40-hour-a-week requirement, or 8 3/4 hours in the case of a 38 3/4 hour-a-week requirement. In 2021, Albertans narrowly voted against switching to permanent DST in a referendum. The final result was close — the “yes” to permanent daylight-saving time side received 49.8 per cent support, while the “no” side got 50.2 per cent. Permanent daylight time is currently only observed in northwestern B.C., Creston, B.C., Yukon and most of
to know the details of the scheme we are being offered. How much exactly will be returned to the contributors? What about the contributors who have moved to other places for
Saskatchewan. On the plus side, Albertans get an extra hour to snooze when the clock falls back to standard time. What I don’t like about putting the clock back is the early afternoon darkness. By the time December rolls around, it’s also dark driving to work. Winter is bad enough, but having to endure less and less daylight as the season progresses is not conducive to emotional health. That probably explains why a lot of people head south for the winter or book a vacation to sunny climes.
retirement (like B.C. or returned to Newfoundland)? How will that affect the projected payout? And even more importantly, who will manage the fund? Will the managers be free to invest accord-
File Photo Research shows people are at greater risk of mood disturbance, suicide, and being involved in traffic accidents during both bi-annual transition periods. Air traffic schedules, train schedules, and public transport schedules all must be changed twice a year. It also complicates timekeeping and disrupts meetings. What time is it?
ing to best investment practices, or will a portion of the money be set aside to support government plans and pay down debt? As it currently stands, we are being asked to choose a
vague scheme that Ms. Smith and her advisors are either unwilling or unable to clarify. For me as a conservative investor, I say “No Thank You.” Yours, Elizabeth Metcalfe, Vermilion, Alta.
