Originally published 6 March 2020. This article is retained from the tCI archive. Law, policy or practice may have changed since publication.
Here at the Institute we are firm believers in the power of consultation. Done well, it can not only lead to more general public involvement, but lead to better decisions being made. It can be used to assuage doubts, to inform the public, and to ensure that all decisions are well scrutinised. But here’s one power we didn’t realise it had until recently. The power to change time itself!
Alright, so perhaps it’s not quite that dramatic, but we were amused to see reports of a consultation in the Yukon in Canada that drew overwhelming support for the abandonment of seasonal time changes. From now on, instead of moving their clocks forwards and backwards every spring and autumn, residents of the Yukon will remain on pacific daylight time all year.
No doubt all those saved hours going round the house winding clocks back and forth will enable residents to properly enjoy their beautiful home all year round. Being so far north, the Yukon can experience as much as 24 hours a day of sunlight in the summer, so we’re not surprised to discover that they don’t feel the need to save any more of it!