RDEK reverses course on time change, survey planned

The Regional District of East Kootenay is preparing a public survey on time observance after its board rescinded an earlier decision to move toward year-round Mountain Standard Time.

The shift followed a formal reconsideration request from Elkford Director Steve Fairbairn after the board’s previous decision drew public reaction from across the region.

In an April 10 media release, RDEK Board Chair Rob Gay said the board received a significant amount of feedback after its March meeting.

“Following our meeting last month, we received a significant amount of feedback from people on all sides of the decision, and one of the strongly expressed concerns was the lack of public consultation,” said Gay. “We recognize that the issue of time observance affects every person in some way, and we have chosen to take a step back and do a regional survey to help inform future decision making.”  

The RDEK board voted 13 to two at its April 10 meeting to rescind the previous motion. The board then unanimously supported having the RDEK coordinate a regional survey. Staff are expected to reach out to local governments across the East Kootenay, as well as neighbouring local governments in Golden and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, to help create a coordinated approach.  

RDEK communications manager Loree Duczek said the survey is still being developed and specific details are not yet available.

“With regard to the survey – it is currently being developed and this process will take some time, so there are no specifics that can be shared at this time,” said Duczek.

She said the public process will be communicated through RDEK email groups, participating local governments, local media and social media. Residents will be able to participate online, by hard copy and, for those who cannot submit online or on paper, by phone.

“This is still being worked out. It will be communicated through the RDEK’s email groups, shared and distributed by the participating local governments, advertised in local media, posted on our social media pages. Residents will be able to participate online, via hard copy and for those who are unable to submit online or in hard copy, a phone option will be available,” said Duczek.

The survey results are expected to be shared publicly and presented to the board before any future decision is made.

“The survey results will be shared with the Board and public and will help inform future decision making,” said Duczek.

The RDEK said the survey will be the formal mechanism for collecting public input. Gay said staff will need time to prepare both the survey and communications plan with partnering local governments.

“Our staff will need some time to craft the survey and communications plan in collaboration with the partnering local governments. While we don’t have a timeline yet for when the survey will be released, it will be well communicated and we will allow time for broad participation,” said Gay.  

The time change issue emerged after the province announced on March 2 that most of British Columbia would end seasonal time changes, leaving areas such as the East Kootenay, which are in the Mountain Time Zone, to determine their own approach. On March 10, the RDEK board voted eight to seven in favour of “falling back” one final time in November to align with the rest of B.C. year round. That motion has since been rescinded.  

Duczek said the RDEK is still determining what the process would look like if the region ultimately supported a permanent change in time observance, including whether provincial action would be required.

“This is not yet known. We are still in the process of determining some of these additional aspects,” said Duczek.

She said the survey is intended to collect broad public perspective but added that more specific engagement details are not yet available because the process is still being developed.

“The survey is intended to gather broad perspective. Beyond that, I am not able to speak to specifics as it is still being developed,” said Duczek.

Questions have been raised around the potential impact on workers, businesses, school divisions, health services and organizations operating across the Alberta and B.C. boundary. Duczek said those details fall under the broader survey development process.

She also said the RDEK has not had direct discussions with major employers such as Elk

Cont’d on page 15

 Valley Resources about the potential impact of a permanent time change. EVR did appear as a delegation at the April meeting.

Gay said the board will consider the non-binding survey results alongside other factors, including provincial direction on the legislative side of any potential change.

“I want to thank all those who reached out to share their concerns, support and ideas following our meeting last month. It is clear there is a wide range of opinion and a great deal of passion. Our decision today will give the public an opportunity to provide us with formal feedback through the survey once it is released,” said Gay.  

The RDEK said more information will be released once the survey and communications plan are finalized.