Lorne once said that we would not even attempt a trial of DST because it was "divisive". This is quite likely the stupidest thing I have ever heard a politician say. With that logic, we shouldn't even be having this election because elections are divisive. And since at least 50% of Sask voters didn't think he should be premier, then maybe he should have resigned since his being premier was divisive. These NDP twits are such chickensh*ts we can't even try DST for a couple of summers? If it didn't work out we could always go back. I always thought the job of premier meant making tough decisions and worrying about if they upset people later.

Wow. That's... hilarious. And sad. And hilarious.

I'm on the side of the No DST.

Gormley has a sound bite with an elderly lady right after the last election where she says "shame shame on you. And you better leave the time alone!" I'm sure I'll hear the shame lady tomorrow.

What have Saskaloonians got against time travel? It works for the rest of the world.

In the spring we move into the future and every fall we go back into the past. It's really cool. You should try it.

The side effects are more daylight at night in the summer and more daylight in the morning in the winter. Saves on electricity and let's the world that you don't all still live on farms.

I am 58 years old. The last time we changed the clock in this province - part of the province changed and part of it didn't. I was a little boy. I can hardly remember all that. Since then and especially in the last several years there has been a constant debate about whether or not we should change.

Think about that for just a minute. There are far more people in this province who have no idea what changing the clocks would mean for us than do. Most of the people who did change their clocks back then have gone to the great beyond. So, what would it be like to change our clocks twice a year? We can talk about it, argue about it, speculate about it and on and on. How about trying it on for size before we vote on it as Brad Wall suggests we do.

I say we try it for two years leading up to the election in 2011. It only makes sense. You can't or at least should not be voting on an issue like this when you don't have a good concept as to what life would be like in that "time zone". Its like shopping for a new pin-stripped suit. Surely you want to try it on before you buy it. We try it for two years and if we don't like it, we punt it!

a different Bob Nailed it. Eastern SK is in the Central Time zone. Western SK is in the Mountain time zone. I, too, remember when the province was split. Draw the line north from about Dickenson/Williston ND.

So as to the clock changing argument, firstly one would have to decide which time zone works best. If you pick Mountain time, SK is already ahead of the game, cause they are on MDT year around as it is right now.

So lighten up people. Figure out that if you start messing with the clocks, you won't be gaining an hour in the summer, but you'll be loosing an evening hour in the winter! Mmmmm. More Darkness. That's the ticket! :)

The New Democrats will be OK with the time change... just as long as Saskatchewan can figure out a way to rig the clocks so that it's an hour BEHIND Alberta, yet remains on the same time as Manitoba.

I remember the NDP's first stab at switching to Central. "It's too hard to make this change."

Well explain that to people who need to make conference calls...

If we're going to be serious about doing business, it's time to sync our clocks with the rest of the business doing world. Not just Arizona.

Because of AGW, DST is going to be necessary to grow pineapples in SK.

Hmmm. How convenient that Brad Wall should announce this the day before Gormley is likely to have his biannual "switch the clocks" show. Gormley won't even have to change topics; he can just merge the election and the DST topics into one. Ta da! Steamlined show.

Seriously, I just think it would be easier if we were with everyone else. As it is, I have to do a bit of mental gymnastics to remember whether it's too early or too late to call outside of the province. Not a huge deal but it is annoying. And avoiding annoyance is a good thing.

Calvert is in good company, China doesn't change the time either. And just like Sask, China is all on the same time zone.

A thing of beauty, this:

"Over years and years we've resolved we will be different from most of the world. I'm often saying Saskatchewan should lead and not always follow." That's Nearly Former Premier Lorne Calvert getting in the quote of the day again. He's got "leading" confused with "ostrich sticking its head in the sand."

And:

"Some farmers believe that if the clocks change, their cows won't milk at the right times and their chickens won't lay eggs." Look, guys, just put tin foil hats on their heads: that'll keep those evil daylight savings time rays off them.

And:

"Perhaps the biggest decision the province would have to make would be what time zone to switch to- mountain, like Alberta, or central, like Manitoba." Uh-oh: back to that old leading Canada and not following Alberta bit again, although in this case it's going to have to be leading with Manitoba ("be progressive and be an hour ahead of Alberta"), which really just doesn't have a great resounding bang to it.

Bring it on: this could make people forget the Dean Scream.

"Some farmers believe that if the clocks change, their cows won't milk at the right times and their chickens won't lay eggs."

You have got to be kidding me!? They actually think that their livestock goes by mankind's clocks to schedule their production, and not Mother Nature's? Cows don't give a crap what the clock says.They produce their milk on their schedule! Geeeezzzz.
Next they are going to be saying that their crops will be confuzzed. Not sure about you,but I know the ones who are really confuzzed here!!
No wonder the dippers keep getting in.

O/T Kate....but the comments for Brad and Tommy are down

Actually, can someone from Saskatchewan tell me what the official reason is for that province not observing Daylight Savings Time?

I was in Arizona a few years ago. I got into a conversation with an elderly Phoenix resident and he told me the story about how that state flip-flopped several times between having the clock change ritual and not having it. They finally decided to drop it for good.

The reason he gave me was that, because it is so damn hot there in the summer, the extra hour of daylight during the summer months made it less bearable if you wanted to go with your family and do something outside in the evening. So, at least I understand their position on the issue.

But Saskatchewan's position has never made sense to me. I have heard that it's all about farmers not wanting to change their work schedule. Does anyone know if there is an official reason and what it would be?

That cow and chicken argument is an insult to farmers.
Unless cows and chickens in Sask are smarter than critters in ROC.
Is this really such a hot issue in Sask?Gets the focus off socialism that's for sure.

The cows and chickens here are really pretty average: it's the socialist critters that are noticeably "subnormal."

The extra hour of daylight will exacerbate global warming. Say NO to DST.

bluetech - the NDP have been using that chicken and cow excuse for not changing time for decades now. Ya, they've been protecting the chickens and the cows. Now if chickens and cows could only vote!

I've moved to Sask from Alberta. DST works, and it shuts up those annoying crows and seagulls in the summer mornings for another hour. Sunrise at 6:00am instead of 5:00am, and sundown at 10:30 instead of 9:30. This is a win, win, win situation; and my wife will quit nagging me in Nov, Dec, Jan because Monday Night Football doesn't go until midnight.

Finally. I guess all us Albertans moving back are going to have to teach you how to set your clocks. I was against DST until I moved to Alberta and actually experienced it. Just get it over with.

And go with Mountain. That way when I call my folks I don't have to take their time into account.

Picking a time zone is purely arbitrary. No one wins or loses, because sunrise and sunset change EVERY DAY.

As for the chickens and cows... DON'T TELL THEM!

I thought it was in the Constitution that Sask can't go to DST.

" I always thought the job of premier meant making tough decisions and worrying about if they upset people later."

No, that's an old fashioned concept,noddy. The new benchmark has been set by Premier Dalton McGuinty in Ontario, the man who sees no evil, hears no evil, and wouldn't do anything about it even if he did.
Premier Lorne is just following the New Way.

Norman, didn't Alberta have some kind of eugenics program to deal with someone as dumb as you? Yeah, go with Mountain Time so the street lights will come on at two in the afternoon in Dec. And I'll bet you're voting for the SASK Party, too.

That cows and chickens thing is a myth -- nobody believes that. Cook should be embarasssed he put that in the story.

*
whoa... there's someplace in this messed up country...
where their most pressing problem is whether
or not to go to daylight savings time?

that's where i wanna live.

*

Changing the clocks is a waste of time,

It's not just a pain switching 30 electrical devices it's a pain on sleep schedules of children too. Bumping them around every 6 months doesn't make the sun stay up longer or the world spin slower.

If this is what passes for an election issue in "The Gap" ..... well let's just say that's kinda PATHETIC!
Flatlanders! Sheesh..........

OMMAG, what's pathetic is your repeated attempts at cogency.

it's amusing to me to here all these people talking about the hassle of changing their clocks twice a year. if they lived in rural SK they'd be fully aware of the number of times the power flicks (at least once a month) and all the clocks have to be reset, you just do it, and it takes a couple minutes, it's not the end of the world! We should definitely be moving to daylight savings, it should be part of the provinces green strategy!

That cows and chickens thing is a myth -- nobody believes that. Cook should be embarasssed he put that in the story.

Bull. It wasn't too long ago I heard a woman phone the radio station to voice her opposition to DST. She was convinced she'd lose an hour off her paycheque!

Well, since my wife took over the twice-a-year burden of changing our 20+ clocks, I'm indifferent. It's dark all the time in Vancouver.

However, have you ever noticed how many different kinds of clock radios can be found in motel/hotel rooms? Absolutely mesmerizing! Tho I have to admit it's helped kill quite a bit of pointless time from time to time when travelling during those time-changing times.

"The Times They are Changing" as Zimmie crooned.

Just don't change the clock in the barn...
Make the PETA people happy for less stress on the critters.

neo... I hear ya!!

Being a "P"rofesional, the clocks need to change with the rest of the business doing world. Dinosaur has it wrong. Kid's will manage with a 1 hour time change twice a year, my 4 kids will cope just fine, like I did when I was younger.

What's absolutely critical is companies NOT MISSING conference calls because they called an hour early or late around November and April because we don't change our clocks.

It's all fine that you don't want to mess with schedules and such, until we start losing out on economic possibilities because of it.

Does it cost the economy over a billion dollars to have groggy kids?

No.

Does it cost our economy over a billion dollars because companies think we're being rude when we call in an hour late to seal a business deal?

YES.

No suck it up, buttercup, and change the clocks already.

The above should read "Now suck it up, buttercup..."

Down here in North Louisiana we have been DST for as long as I can rememer, it sucks.

Starting this Sunday it will be dark at 5:00 PM, and by the time you drive home from work it's dark. It usually takes about 3 - 4 months to get used to it and then you frigin change back.

Pick a Zone and stay with it.
,

There is nothing quite like the time debate to bring out emotion in people no matter what side of the issue they are on. A fellow phoned in to Brad Wall's campaign office this morning to protest the proposed vote on the issue in four years. He said that he had intended to vote for his Sask Party candidate however with this announcement he is switching his vote and is going out to actively campaign against the Sask Party.

When asked by the campaign office staff what his complaint was with voting on it he said "There are enough people for it and it will pass". When asked what was wrong with a question like this decided in a democratic way he said that the people had no business voting for it. Sounds to me like he would find himself right at home with the NDP.

This is an election issue?

I moved from Saskatchewan 4.50 years ago. While I was in Sk I was a mayor of a villige and this whole debate came up every year at the SUMA conference.

I now live in Manitoba where we do change our clocks every 6 months. Is it a big deal to do so? Nope real easy. It is nice to know that here in Manitoba was are always one hour ahead of Calgary, 2 hours ahead of Vancouver and one hour behind Toronto? Now can someone tell me are we in Manitoba now one hour ahead of Sask. or one hour behind or the same time. Always confused.

Come on SK try it for 4 years. You make love it.
The worst words in the english language are " Well we have been doing it like this for the past 40 years" or "We tried that 50 years ago and it did not work" Well they tried finding the titanic 50 years ago and it did not work, does that means they should give up forever. Nope someone finally succeeded. If Henry Ford would of went out asking the people what they wanted in better transportation the people would of said "A faster horse". Then nothing would of changed.

Allan

by not changing our clocks we in Sask are really changing time. everything in our lives changes, TV program times, bus schedules, plane schedules, business with other provinces (the NDP know nothing of this), what a bunch of losers we in Sask. are for following the NDP for all these years.

It's a non issue.

What's the big deal? I already change my clocks at least 6 times a year because of all of the power outages that I get courtesy of Sask Power.

ok4u:
Everything appears to be non issue for you these days. CHANGE is a non issue.
Get used to change brother... it's only 5 days away!

Not wanting to disturb this rational discussion with a little science but just have a glance at these two time zone maps courtesy theweathernetwork.com.

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/common/images/dst_stdzones_sm.jpg
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/common/images/dst_dstzones_sm.jpg

It is fairly obvious to anyone that can draw a straight line that we have been "trying" DST since 1967 and it works so well we do it year round!

"Its like shopping for a new pin-stripped suit. Surely you want to try it on before you buy it. We try it for two years and if we don't like it, we punt it!"

The only thing worse than changing once, is changing twice.
My Facebook group to keep MDT collected more members than John Himpe of News Talk Radio's pro-CST group did. The masses of the Interwebs have spoken.

Actually, ok4u, it's a big quality of life issue for those whose work, those who pay the freight in this province.For those whose jobs make them slaves to the clock, it means an extra hour of daylight after work. If any province needs that hour, it's SK. And kudos to Wall for his commitment. Calvert's head in the sand approach is not avoiding a divisive issue. By doing nothing when he had the opportunity, he has sided with the status quo, with those who think change will confuse the chickens, who think all that sunlight will fade the drapes, with those who haven't entertained a new thought or a new idea since 1965.

I'm not surprised that Sask is still using an ancient time-keeping system, Lorne Calvert's NDP govt is still supporting a WW II marketing system for selling Western Canada's wheat and barley.

And the War has been over for some time now.

Whoops. Just read Wall's position on time change in the Leader Post- A referendum in 4 years and " If the question is changing, then change to what" He's as big a bonehead as anyone on the issue.

Daylight saving time was introduced in England in World War I. The idea was to increase the amount of daylight in the evening hours. In England, the sun is overhead at noon standard time; daylight saving puts it overhead at one in the afternoon. Don't ask me what benefit they thought they'd get or whether they actually got it; they thought having the sun rise later in the morning and set later at night would do them good.

In Regina, because of its position at the western end of the Central standard time zone, the sun is overhead at one in the afternoon standard time. So if there were any benefit to having the sun overhead at one instead of at noon, they'd be getting it anyway. So daylight time is unnecessary. Or so someone must have thought.