Daylight Saving Time Ends This Weekend in Ottawa: What to Know

URGENT UPDATE: Daylight saving time ends this weekend in the Ottawa area, with residents advised to adjust their clocks one hour back at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. This change signifies the transition to standard time, which will continue until March 8, 2026, when clocks will spring forward again.

Residents of Ottawa, eastern Ontario, and western Quebec will experience earlier sunsets as the sun will set before 5 p.m. for the next three months. On Saturday, Nov. 1, the sun rises at 7:42 a.m. and sets at 5:49 p.m.. However, on Nov. 2, after the time change, sunrise will occur at 6:43 a.m., with sunset at 4:48 p.m.. Ottawa will have 10 hours and four minutes of daylight on Nov. 2, decreasing to just nine hours by the end of November.

The end of daylight saving time has triggered renewed discussions about its relevance, with Ottawa-area MP Marie-France Lalonde introducing a private member’s bill aimed at abolishing the biannual clock change. Lalonde labels this practice as “outdated” and is urging the federal government to collaborate with provincial and territorial officials to establish a permanent standard time.

According to Lalonde’s proposal, a pan-Canadian conference would address crucial issues surrounding the time change, such as its economic impact, health implications, and the potential for a unified approach across Canada. The bill had its first reading on October 6, 2025.

This push for change is not new; in 2020, Ontario’s government passed legislation to make daylight saving time permanent, contingent on coordination with Quebec and New York State. The history of daylight saving time in Canada dates back to 1918, introduced to boost productivity during World War I. Notably, Saskatchewan is the only province that does not observe daylight saving time year-round.

As residents prepare for the clock change this weekend, the implications stretch beyond just the adjustment of time. The ongoing discussions about the relevance of daylight saving time reflect broader concerns about health, productivity, and the need for a modernized approach to timekeeping in Canada.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story and what it means for your daily routines in Ottawa and beyond.