RDEK votes to ditch Daylight Saving

The Regional District of East Kootenay has voted in favour of observing Mountain Standard Time, which will align the region with the rest of the province.

RDEK board chair Rob Gay said it’s been clear that people don’t like changing their clocks.

“What we do kind of agree on is that people don’t want to change their clock twice a year, people just are tired with that,” he said.

Not everyone around the table supported the motion.

Director Mike Gray said they need more time to consult the public.

“We did start a CAO working group for all the communities that would be affected, but that CAO working group hasn’t had a chance to report back to us yet. We have preempted their work by trying to make this decision now, when there’s no need,” he said.

“I appreciate that we’re wanting to get ahead of this. We’re wanting to be first. I understand that urge. I understand that frustration. However, just like we get frustrated when the province doesn’t talk to us, I’m sure the people in Golden and Area A are gonna be a little bit miffed that we didn’t give them a chance to be part of this conversation.”

Director David Wilks has heard some concerns from people who live in Alberta, but work in the mines in the Elk Valley.

He said those people will just have to get used to it.

“I’ve heard arguments in the Elk Valley a little bit about the people who live in Alberta that work in the mines,” he added.

“We have lots of houses for sale in Sparwood. Come on in here. I’m not worried about you being out an hour. It does not bother me one bit. You figure it out.”

The motion passed in a tight 8-7 vote.

While the RDEK is moving forward with it, Gay said it is a concern that some communities may not follow suit as it is their decision at the end of the day.

“Is it certainly a concern, because they have their ability to make their own change,” he said.

“I would think it wouldn’t make a lot of sense if we were all different, but we could adapt to that, but I think this is the direction the region would like to go and we said that.”

The recommendation will get sent to the province for approval.

While the rest of the province won’t be changing their clocks this fall, communities in the East Kootenay that decide to ditch Daylight Saving will fall back one more time to then be the same as the rest of B.C.