The Saskatchewan government is repealing and replacing its decades-old time legislation to coordinate with Alberta’s move to permanent Central Standard Time.
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The Ministry of Government Relations announced Thursday that The Time Act, 2026 will replace the original 1966 statute. The update follows Alberta’s decision to make 2026 its final year of “springing forward,” effectively moving Saskatchewan’s western neighbour to the same time zone year-round.
While Saskatchewan has observed Central Standard Time (CST) for most of the province since 1966, the border city of Lloydminster and several surrounding areas have historically followed Mountain Standard Time to stay in sync with Alberta.
The new legislation provides flexibility for these border communities to adjust their time-keeping via regulation rather than legislative overhauls.
“While our residents have long been used to running on ‘Lloydminster time,’ the differing provincial time zones often prove a little tricky for those visiting our city,” Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers said in a release.
Aalbers welcomed the change, noting it reflects the daily reality of a border community where “no time travel” will now be required for residents moving between the two provinces.
Colleen Young, MLA for Lloydminster, said the alignment will eliminate a long-standing challenge for constituents and businesses in the region.
“Straddling the border comes with its own unique set of challenges,” Young said. “Eliminating the time changes removes one of them.”
Prior to the 1966 act, Saskatchewan operated under a patchwork of local time standards. The updated 2026 act ensures that border towns can maintain consistency with neighbouring jurisdictions should any future changes occur.
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