Ontario does it for the children

The Globe and Mail carries the story that the provincial government of Ontario will be extending daylight savings time to be in sync with the US change. Personally, I really don’t care as to whether the sun is shinning or not as I still have to be at work on time.

“Now I want to make it clear,” Mr. Bryant said in a prepared statement. “Ontario does not automatically move in lock step with the U.S. on this or any issue.” He said the decision to harmonize the province's daylight time with the United States followed a review by a government committee into the potential impact such a move could have on Ontario. The committee found that any misalignment with the province's biggest trading partner could have a very real and negative impact, including trade disruption as well as creating border pressures.

The extra hour of daylight in the afternoon will also provide a much needed chance to encourage children to play sports outside, rather than watch television, after school, Mr. Bryant said. It could also reduce pedestrian injuries and fatalities, he added.

Anti-Americanism can now be considered to be firmly entrenched in the Ontario psyche when the provincial government feels compelled to point out that just because we are following the US lead it should not be misconstrued as the government is in lock step on this or any other issue. No, Canadians are nobler than that because we are doing it for trade and our children.

Actually, the Tribe and I did discuss this issue around the dinner table a while ago. Their only objection to Ontario not following suit is how it would muck up their television schedule. I did try to point out that they could always watch the CBC and I got nothing but abuse for my humble attempts at promoting nationalism at the dinner table.