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NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS Prime Minister Carney introduces new Productivity Mega Deduction

Manitoba Will Move to Permanent Daylight Saving Time

In Budget 2025, the federal government introduced a Productivity Super-Deduction so that businesses can immediately deduct 100% of the cost of eligible new investments – machinery, equipment, and technology. On Sept. 15, Prime Minister Carney announced that the federal government is building on that success with the new Productivity Mega Deduction. This new tax incentive will increase the ...

After listening to the views of Manitobans on seasonal time changes, the Manitoba government has decided to remain on daylight saving time (DST) permanently, Premier Wab Kinew announced Sept. 17. This change means Manitobans’ clocks will not revert to standard time on Nov. 1. Manitoba joins several other provinces and territories that have adopted or are moving toward a permanent time including British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Alberta and Saskatchewan For background information on the considerations that went into the switch to permanent DST, please see pages 18-23 of this newsletter.

September 18, 2026

September 18, 2026 Discover Agriculture on the Farm offers hands-on family fun September 20 All Manitobans are invited to explore farming and food production at Discover Agriculture on the Farm on Sunday, September 20. The free, family-friendly event offers opportunities to meet Manitoba farmers, see farm animals up close, explore crops grown on the Prairies and learn more about where food comes from. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine, at the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre at the University of Manitoba’s Glenlea Research Station, 1290 Research Station Road, approximately 15 minutes south of Winnipeg. Visitors can take a wagon ride, see dairy cows, broiler chickens, and laying hens, and visit booths featuring farmers and representatives from Manitoba’s agriculture and agri-food sector – including Manitoba Beef Producers. Hands-on activities will include Spot the Hazard farm safety challenges, How Do You Measure Up to a Bison?, the Wheel of Chicken, and a canola crush activity. Visitors can also enjoy agriculturethemed games, collect recipes and take home free giveaways while supplies last. Participating organizations will offer opportunities to talk directly with farmers and ask questions about raising animals, growing crops and producing food in Manitoba. Farmers will be available at many of the booths to share their experiences and answer visitors’ questions. Free food samples featuring Manitoba products will be available while supplies last. Planned samples include chicken and pork sliders, cookies made with eggs and canola, milk, the “Manitoba social” beef skewer, and freeze-dried berries. New this year, visitors are encouraged to support Tin for the Bin by bringing a non-perishable food item for Harvest Manitoba. Yellow donation bins will be located near the event information table. Most-needed items include canned fruit, vegetables, stew, soup and tuna, as well as peanut butter, rice, pasta, pasta sauce, instant oatmeal and baby food or formula. The event launches the 12th annual Farm and Food Awareness Week, taking place September 20 to 25 across Manitoba. This year’s theme, “Community and Agriculture: Growing Together,” recognizes the close connection between agriculture and Manitoba communities, including agriculture’s role

in supporting local economies, creating opportunities for future generations and bringing people together. Manitoba’s agriculture and agri-food sector generates $18.3 billion in direct output and employs over 34,000 people—essentially one in 22 jobs in the province. “Discover Agriculture on the Farm” brings that theme to life by connecting visitors directly with Manitoba farmers and agricultural organizations. Through conversations, demonstrations and hands-on activities, visitors can learn more about local food production and the importance of supporting Manitoba producers and buying local. Admission and parking are free. There will be no food available for purchase, but visitors are welcome to bring a picnic lunch. Visitors are asked to not bring pets to this event. For more information: Crystal Jorgenson, University of Manitoba 204-791-8109 crystal.jorgenson@umanitoba.ca

Agricultural Crown Lands Leases and Permits Regulation Engagement Source: https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/landmanagement/crown-land/ Manitoba Agriculture is asking for feedback on proposed changes to the Agricultural Crown Lands Program. These changes would update the Agricultural Crown Lands Leases and Permits Regulation under The Crown Lands Act. In fall 2025, Manitoba Agriculture asked producers, Indigenous governments and organizations, industry partners, and the public for input through the ACL Program Review. This feedback helped shape the proposed changes. The changes focus on how leases are awarded, how much land one leaseholder can hold, and how modern leases can be renewed. Based on what we heard, the proposed changes would strengthen the Agricultural Crown Lands Program by: Improving How Leases Are Awarded: Moving from an auction-based process to an application-based process. This would give new and emerging producers a better chance to access land.

an Animal Unit Month limit so agricultural Crown lands are available to more producers and are not held by only a few large leaseholders. Allowing Modern Leases to Be Renewed: Allowing modern leases to be renewed for additional 15year terms, where requirements such as Treaty Land Entitlement and Duty to Consult are met. This would give producers more certainty for long-term planning. More information about these proposed changes can be found in the Manitoba Agriculture Crown Lands Lease and Permits Regulation Proposed Changes. How to Participate All Manitobans are invited to provide feedback on the proposed changes. Comments can be submitted through the Manitoba Regulatory Consultation Portal at http://reg.gov.mb.ca/home until October 2, 2026. Your feedback will help shape future updates to the regulation and improve the program. For more information, please contact Manitoba Agriculture at agcrownlands@gov.mb.ca.

Limiting Total Leaseholder Holdings: Bringing back

October 8 deadline to Apply for Disaster Financial Assistance for June 2026 Heavy Rains Manitoba has established a DFA program for the 2026 June Heavy Rains. • Program Announcement Date: July 10, 2026 • Deadline to request DFA: October 8, 2026 Primary residences, farms, businesses and nonprofit organizations with impacts related to the heavy rains may apply to the DFA program. Insurable damages are not eligible for DFA. Secondary properties such as cottages are never

eligible for DFA. In addition, DFA does not assist with loss of income, revenue, wages, market share or opportunity. Refer to the DFA webpage for more details. Apply for DFA • Deadline to submit invoices and event related expenses: July 12, 2027 You can also download the application form and print it, call to have one mailed to you, or visit your municipal office.

Spots still available - contact the office to sign up

Industry Update New Federal Tax Incentive Announced Today, the Prime Minister introduced the new Productivity Mega Deduction to "boost Canada’s advantage as the most competitive G7 country for new business investment”. This new tax incentive is designed to increase tax write-offs for capital assets and drive the amount of assets covered in Canada from roughly 15% to more than 65%. Investments such as fibre optic cable, mining property, oil and gas pipelines, and more are included in the incentive. Of importance to the agriculture sector, this tax change includes farming infrastructure and will provide immediate expensing for a broad-based range of depreciable property in Canada on a permanent basis. This means farmers and ranchers will be able to use immediate expensing to fully write off the cost of an investment in the year that it comes available for use on eligible assets. Overall, the federal government says this new incentive will lower the after-tax cost of investing and boost capital investment across Canada. As a result, Canada’s marginal effective tax rate on new business investment will fall from roughly 13% to 6.4%.

Opportunities for Cattle Producers: •

Farm machinery, freight trucks, non-passenger vehicles, and infrastructure for agriculture (including buildings) are deemed eligible for the tax incentive.

•

Other indirect benefits will come through transportation infrastructure improvements for roads, bridges, rail, etc.

Following today’s announcement, CCA will engage with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Finance Canada to capture all necessary productivity improvements for agriculture. For example, we are unclear if roller compacted concrete (RCC) will be included in the tax relief. CCA will be seeking clarification and if required, advocate to include RCC. Please follow up with Jessica at radauj@cattle.ca if you see any other clarifications needed on what infrastructure is deemed eligible. CCA is also seeking clarification with MNP and other stakeholders. We will provide more information as it becomes available. For more information: Government of Canada introduces new Productivity Mega Deduction to boost Canada’s advantage as the most competitive G7 country for new business investment

The Canadian Cattle Association is the national voice for Canada’s beef cattle industry representing 60,000 beef farms and feedlots. www.cattle.ca

Canada is Cattle Country.

Head Office #180, 6815 – 8th Street NE Calgary, Alberta T2E 7H7 Phone: (403) 275-8558 Email: contact@cattle.ca

Ottawa Office #1101, 350 Sparks St. Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7S8 Phone: (613) 233-9375

Written Submission for Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2026 Budget Canadian Cattle Association Introduction The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) is the national voice of Canada's beef producers, representing Canada's 60,000 beef farms and feedlots through our provincial beef association members. The Canadian beef industry contributes $41.1 billion to the Canadian economy (GDP) and employs nearly 350,000 Canadians. CCA is equipped with a clear plan to help build a strong economy, supporting beef producers to grow their herds, drive economic growth, and strengthen both Canadian and global food security through an ambitious and comprehensive trade agenda. Our recommendations are practical, largely low-cost, and directly aligned with the Federal Government's National Food Security Strategy and efforts to grow trade, improve economic competitiveness, and strengthen resilience at home. The opportunity to strengthen the Canadian beef industry’s contributions to economic growth is immediate: Canadian cattle producers held 12.1 million cattle and calves on their farms on July 1, 2026. This is up 3.2 per cent from one year earlier, marking the largest year-over-year increase since 2004. After years of contraction, Canada’s beef cattle herd has entered an expansion phase. While encouraging, this momentum remains incredibly fragile at a pivotal time. Canada’s cattle producers need positive signals from the federal government in the form of equitable risk management tools, supportive government policies and strong trade agreements. CCA’s recommendations for Budget 2026 provide solutions: • • •

Embed Livestock Price Insurance (LPI) into Canada’s business risk management (BRM) suite and introduce government cost-shared premiums. Maintain tariff-free live cattle and beef trade between Canada and the U.S. Prevent additional beef access to Canada through a new trade agreement with Mercosur.

Head Office #180, 6815 – 8th Street NE Calgary, Alberta T2E 7H7 Phone: (403) 275-8558 Email: contact@cattle.ca

Ottawa Office #1101, 350 Sparks St. Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7S8 Phone: (613) 233-9375

Canadian Beef: Driving Economic Growth through Trade Canada is an agri-food exporting nation and trade is critical to the Canadian beef industry—nearly half of all Canadian beef production is exported. In 2025, the sector set a record with C$7.3 billion in beef and live cattle exports. The beef sector is ready to work with the government to advance its commitment to diversify Canada's trade. Global meat demand is expected to surge by 70 per cent by 2050 as the world's population and middle class continue to grow. Canada is positioned to meet that demand. Reducing overreliance on a single market strengthens economic security and presents a growth opportunity. Every new market increases the value of cattle, which in turn helps incentivize producers to grow the herd at home and increases the long-term economic sustainability of beef farmers and ranchers. As exports grow, they increase per head values, which supports prices and encourages expansion that ultimately increases supply of beef domestically while building exports given the different cut profiles for domestic and export markets. This growth expands consumer choice and lowers prices for Canadians, while contributing to domestic and international food security. Beef cuts not in demand in Canada are exported to countries where they are preferred, which increases the value of each animal. We experienced that carcass value increase in early 2026 when Canadian beef access to China was restored. This added value encourages beef producers to expand their herds, ultimately increasing the domestic retail beef supply and export market opportunities. Key to diversification efforts in our sector is growing the herd in Canada. There is strong demand for Canadian beef around the world, where we are known as a reliable, highquality sustainable beef producer. Once we grow the herd, we will have more cuts to send around the world and help meet the Government’s trade diversification objectives. Canada’s trade diversification agenda must not, however, come at the expense of Canada’s beef producers. Prevent Further Beef Access to Canada through a Mercosur Trade Deal This spring, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada’s first food security strategy. It emphasized more control over our food supply and more Canadian food production. The Government’s Spring Economic Update also recognized the challenges Canadian farmers face including higher input costs, weather and market disruptions. However, the Government of Canada’s emphasis to conclude negotiations with Mercosur as soon as possible risks undermining Canada’s national food security. The National Food Security Strategy outlines that Canada already relies heavily on imported beef. In 2025, beef imports were the highest since 1993, representing an estimated 30 per cent of domestic consumption. 2

Head Office #180, 6815 – 8th Street NE Calgary, Alberta T2E 7H7 Phone: (403) 275-8558 Email: contact@cattle.ca

Ottawa Office #1101, 350 Sparks St. Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7S8 Phone: (613) 233-9375

This is the largest import share since 2001–2002 when 32 per cent of our beef was imported. It is also the largest proportion and exposure of beef imports compared to other major beef exporting countries: United States (19%), European Union (7%), Australia (3%), and Mercosur (1%). In the last two years, Canada’s beef import quota was filled in record time: the annual quota for 2025 was filled within a few days in January by Mercosur countries. Mercosur beef imports have surged by 238 per cent from 2021 to 2025 with 70 per cent paying existing tariffs—showing that current tariffs do not deter Mercosur beef imports given their lower production costs. As Canada pursues new trade agreements, including current Canada-Mercosur negotiations, the government must ensure they do not open the domestic market to product that undercuts Canadian producers and is held to lower labour, food safety, animal health, and sustainability standards than our own. The data clearly shows that increased imports from Mercosur will displace the farm families who raise cattle in Canada and will hinder the rebuilding of the Canadian herd. North America has a historic shortage of cattle—the lowest cattle inventory in 50 years. Higher price signals are incentivizing beef producers to increase their herd and thereby increase the national beef supply and contribute to food security. However, increasing cheaper imports of beef from Mercosur countries sends the opposite signal to Canadian beef producers and prevents the herd from rebuilding. Cheap imports are not a solution. They are a risk to both national and global food security. Fewer Canadian cattle means less Canadian beef for all Canadian consumers and for key international allies such as Japan, South Korea and Mexico who depend on Canadian beef for their food supply. The Canadian beef industry is a strategic export sector. Canada must protect its beef producers and food security rather than sacrificing long-term domestic capability for short-term trade deals. Maintain Integrated Trade between Canada and USA As the government continues to shape our trade policy, it is important to acknowledge that our industry cannot diversify away from the United States. Key to our sector’s trade success is the integration of the Canada-U.S. beef supply chain. The Canadian beef industry was built on integration with the U.S.; our infrastructure was built to support tariff-free trade. Canadian and American farmers and ranchers work together to produce some of the highest-quality and most sustainable beef. 3

Head Office #180, 6815 – 8th Street NE Calgary, Alberta T2E 7H7 Phone: (403) 275-8558 Email: contact@cattle.ca

Ottawa Office #1101, 350 Sparks St. Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7S8 Phone: (613) 233-9375

Cattle may freely cross borders multiple times throughout the production cycle, such as American-born cattle fed in Canadian feedlots sent back to the U.S. for processing. The free movement of cattle across the border increases the value of cattle and increases options for beef producers as climate and market conditions change. Our unique system of integration allows for efficiency, lower costs for consumers, increases the value of Canadian cattle and provides more options for beef producers to sell their cattle. Therefore, preserving continued tariff-free trade with the United States remains critical to the beef industry’s success. Given our sector’s integration, it is critical that Canada be ready to respond to the emerging threat of mandatory country of origin labelling (mCOOL) including but not limited to using our WTO retaliatory rights. CCA continues to work with U.S. stakeholders and our officials to advocate against mCOOL, which would increase the price of beef for Americans and add significant costs to our industry on both sides of the border. Cattle producers have experienced multiple shocks in the last five years including extreme weather events, increased input costs, and supply chain disruptions that have led to a historic shortage of cattle in North America—we need tools to grow our herd. To respond to these challenges, the U.S. continues to make funding announcements to support the beef sector and grow their domestic herd. We need the Government of Canada to step up and encourage herd growth in Canada. One of the main tools that will move the needle in growing our herd is introducing government cost-shared Livestock Price Insurance (LPI) premiums and making LPI a permanent program offered nationally by embedding the program into Canada’s business risk management (BRM) suite of tools. By adding cost-shared premiums like insurance products currently available for other agriculture sectors, we will incentivize further growth in Canada and maintain our sector’s competitive advantage. Growing Resiliency and the Herd through Livestock Price Insurance Rebuilding Canada's cattle herd will require effective tools that provide beef farmers and ranchers the confidence to make long-term investments amid ongoing market uncertainty. Business risk management programs are the tools that provide agricultural producers with protection against income and production losses, helping them manage risks that threaten the viability of their farms. Currently, Livestock Price Insurance is not included in Canada’s BRM suite. LPI provides producers with price protection for calves, feeders and fed cattle to help reduce losses from unforeseen price declines by insuring a market price for their cattle.

Head Office #180, 6815 – 8th Street NE Calgary, Alberta T2E 7H7 Phone: (403) 275-8558 Email: contact@cattle.ca

Ottawa Office #1101, 350 Sparks St. Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7S8 Phone: (613) 233-9375

LPI is the only program that allows beef producers to proactively manage price risk. It is particularly important for young and new producers who are most exposed to price shocks and may not otherwise have the equity built for accessing loans. LPI is recognized by lending institutions and helps put young and new producers in a more certain risk position to borrow the money they need to maintain and grow their herds and businesses. By reducing exposure to unexpected price declines, LPI provides greater certainty to help producers manage financial risks and the associated stress and wellness impacts. However, high premium costs driven by increased market volatility are limiting uptake at the very time producers need this tool most. Unlike Canadian crop producers who utilize crop insurance, and U.S. cattle producers who have various tools available, Canadian cattle producers do not benefit from cost-shared premiums and have faced long-time inequities in Canada’s BRM program suite. Now is the time to embed LPI into Canada’s BRM suite and introduce government costshared premiums. Government cost sharing would also align LPI with the recent Halifax Statement guiding the work of Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments in the Next Policy Framework for Canada’s agriculture sector, specifically the governments’ priority to improve BRM programs to be more responsive and equitable to support producers in managing risks beyond their control. Introducing government cost-shared LPI premiums and embedding the program in the BRM suite would help level the playing field, strengthen producer confidence, and support access to a proactive price insurance tool that complements other longer-term BRM programs. The Next Policy Framework provides the ideal vehicle to include LPI in the BRM suite as a nationally offered program with government cost-shared premiums. However, given today's market volatility and trade uncertainty, governments should act now to implement these program improvements and ensure these changes are incorporated into the next framework. The estimated annual cost of a government cost-shared LPI premium would be a total provincial and federal government contribution of $56-95 million in years of high market volatility, where lower costs are expected in years when markets are stable. We’ve estimated a range due to a variety of factors. CCA commissioned Canfax Research Services to estimate these LPI costs and we welcome an opportunity to share the analysis and discuss the findings. This estimated cost is in comparison to the nearly $1 billion governments spend annually to support crop insurance cost-shared premiums. 5

Head Office #180, 6815 – 8th Street NE Calgary, Alberta T2E 7H7 Phone: (403) 275-8558 Email: contact@cattle.ca

Ottawa Office #1101, 350 Sparks St. Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7S8 Phone: (613) 233-9375

In a typical year, the Crop Insurance Program in Canada provides insurance for nearly 72 million acres, where for each acre, $22.55 is collected in premiums and $1.79 in administrative expenses.1 LPI is a practical and cost-effective investment that checks the boxes of several public policy objectives by strengthening proactive economic resilience, supporting growth, improving opportunities for the next generation, and supporting the mental well-being of producers. LPI is the first step to ensure Canadian producers can continue to be competitive globally to grow our herd—meeting the moment of trade diversification when the world is demanding more Canadian beef. Conclusion The Government of Canada has an opportunity to enhance our economic potential both domestically and globally. By embedding Livestock Price Insurance into Canada’s business risk management suite and introducing government cost-shared premiums, we can continue to grow the Canadian cattle herd and meet the demand of our high-quality beef. The national herd is growing for the first time in years, and the measures outlined above are practical and largely low-cost. The world needs more Canadian beef, and Canada’s beef producers are ready to deliver. CCA would be pleased to meet with you to further discuss our Budget 2026 recommendations. For more information, please contact: Sam Parker Government Relations Manager Canadian Cattle Association parkers@cattle.ca | 613-686-5561

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Evalua5on of the AgriInsurance Program (Oﬃce of Audit and Evalua5on), h@ps://agriculture.canada.ca/en/department/transparency/audits-evalua5ons/agriinsurance-program.

Age verification IN THE CLTS What is age verification? Age verification is the process of validating an animal’s age. Recording a birth date is one component of that process. If an animal's age is in question, dentition is considered the most accurate method of age determination. Producers can voluntarily record the birth date of an animal that was born on their farm and identified with an approved CCIA indicator (tag) in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) to support age verification.

FLAG: Enter birth date information before 12 months. The CLTS flags birth date information entered or modified after twelve months. It was introduced in 2022 by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for the BSE Program and updated in 2026 from 9 months to 12 months. Birth dates can only be entered by the herd of origin. Birth dates may be used at slaughter to determine whether an animal is under 30 months of age. Being under or over 30 months may affect the animal’s value. Late entry or modification after twelve months trigger a pop-up window notification in the CLTS and is noted when a report is generated.

Age Verification is not mandatory. Age verification is not mandatory to report as it is not regulated data in Canada. Some specialty beef cattle programs require that animals are age verified to qualify. Producers can voluntarily record birth date information in the CLTS database.

How do I enter a birth date? To enter a birth date, you must have a CLTS database account. To set up and activate a CLTS account, contact CCIA: Phone: 1‑877‑909‑2333 Email: info@canadaid.ca If you do not have access to a computer or the internet, you may authorize a third party to submit information on your behalf. Third-party options may include a neighbour, relative, or local veterinary office. Contact CCIA by phone or email to receive a list of approved webservice providers from our Client Support Team.

How can I confirm that an animal I have purchased is age verified? How do I create a birth date certificate? After an animal’s birth date is recorded in the CLTS database, a birth date certificate can be created. The certificate is generated using the CCIA tag/indicator number.

There are two options: Search for a birth date using the animal’s identification number(s). Generate a birth date certificate. The CLTS database allows users to generate a birth date certificate for any livestock with a recorded birth date. To provide confidence in the birth dates recorded in the system, if a birth date is entered or modified after the animal is twelve months of age, a flag will appear on the tag history and the birth date certificate. Once an animal has left the farm of origin and ownership has changed, a new owner cannot enter or modify the animal's birth date in the CLTS database. Only the herd of origin (where the animal was born) can submit a birth date in the CLTS database.

Smallholder Webinar Series Small Ruminant Session 1: Disease Prevention & Risk Reduction Session one of the two part webinar series on Small Ruminants is designed for Canadian smallholders and producers. This session will focus on practical ways to recognize signs of illness in the flock, manage the risks associated with animal movement and new purchases, prevent disease spread through people, equipment and other mechanical sources, control pests, and reduce contact and disease transmission between small ruminants and wildlife. Online Webinar: Available upon registration Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Time: 19:00-20:30 ET // 16:00-17:30 PT RACE-approved CE: 1.5 hours Cost: Free!

Dr. Paula Menzies, DVM, MPVM, Dip ECSRHM University of Guelph

Smallholder Webinar Series Small Ruminant Session 2: Disease Detection, Response & Containment Session two of the two-part webinar series on Small Ruminants is designed for Canadian smallholders and producers. This session will focus on recognizing important diseases and know actions to take when disease occurs in your flock. It will also cover humane euthanasia and safe carcass disposal, consider zoonotic and public health risks, and plan for continuity and recovery following an animal health event. Online Webinar: Available upon registration Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026 Time: 19:00-20:30 ET // 16:00-17:30 PT RACE-approved CE: 1.5 hours Cost: Free!

Dr. Paula Menzies, DVM, MPVM, Dip ECSRHM University of Guelph

Health Implications of Time Policy

The biannual practice of changing between Standard Time (ST) and Daylight Saving Time (DST) leads to short-term negative population health consequences, compared to permanently staying on ST or DST.14 The DST transition in spring originated in wartime to boost productivity, conserve energy and extend daylight leisure time. Over decades, provinces aligned DST schedules to minimize confusion in trade and travel. Today, the rationale for DST is more social and economic: providing more daylight in late afternoon and evening when people are off work, which is thought to encourage retail activity, recreation, and safer travel in the evenings. Currently, Manitoba (as in most of Canada and the U.S.), observes ST in autumn and winter. Clocks are turned ahead by one hour to begin DST on the second Sunday of March and then set back by one hour on the first Sunday of November. Manitoba’s time policy is currently legislated under The Official Time Act, which falls under the Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations.15 In recent years, there has been increasing interest in moving away from current time policies to adopt permanent DST. Ontario passed legislation in 2020 that will permit changing to permanent DST if neighbouring jurisdictions do the same. Yukon adopted permanent DST in 2020, and British Columbia and Alberta will follow suit in 2026. Saskatchewan has remained on permanent ST since 1966. Turning clocks forward or back by an hour disrupts sleep and the body’s natural daily rhythm. The spring shift to DST may be more problematic, leading to a range of public health effects such as sleep and circadian rhythm disruption,9,14 increased risk for cardiovascular events,11,12,14 injury/accidents,1,3,8,14 and impacts on mental health and wellbeing.2,5,14

Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Loss of sleep is the most immediate consequence of the spring DST transition. Studies show that sleep duration decreases slightly in the week following the change.14 Adolescents are particularly vulnerable given their natural delayed sleep phase.9 One small U.S. study of high school students found that sleep duration declined an average of 32 minutes on the weeknights following the DST transition leading to a cumulative sleep loss of over two hours.9 Our bodies take cues from the light-dark cycles, and abrupt changes, such as a one-hour time change can misalign our bodies biological clocks, though these effects are usually small. The transition back to ST in the autumn realigns the sleep-wake cycle more closely with the light-dark cycle but can still cause short-term disruptions to sleep. These disruptions, particularly around the spring transition, may be contributing factors to the acute negative health outcomes following DST transitions discussed below.14

Cardiovascular Health Multiple studies across North America and Europe have shown increases in heart attacks following the spring DST transition.11,14 Notably, one study in Michigan found a 24 per cent increase in hospitalizations for heart attacks on the Monday following DST start, compared to other Mondays.11 In Manitoba, from 2014 – 2024, the average number of hospitalizations for heart attacks on the Monday following the DST transition was 9 compared to 8.5 for all other Mondays, an increase of 6.3 per cent.7 A meta-analysis estimated around a 4 per cent relative increase in heart attack risk in the week following the spring change.14 In Manitoba, data regarding heart attacks over the same period does not show any consistent pattern.7 The increased risk of heart attacks is one of the more consistently observed effects of the change to DST. Studies have not observed an increased risk in heart attacks in the autumn transition back to ST.11,14 In Manitoba, on the Monday following the fall transition, there were an average of 10.6 hospital admissions for heart attacks compared to an average of 8.4 on all other Mondays representing a 27.3 per cent increase.7 Research from Finland has reported an 8 per cent higher rate of stroke in the first two days after a DST transition, both in spring and fall compared to other time periods.12 The increased risk for cardiovascular events observed around DST transitions is short-lived and becomes statistically insignificant when looking at the whole week post DST transition. The elevated risk may be from disruption to sleep and circadian rhythm and the stress of switching schedules, which may trigger cardiovascular events in vulnerable people.14 Manitoba data shows there were 8.5 and 9.5 hospitalizations per day for stroke in the 48 hours following the spring and fall DST transition respectively, a decrease of 10.5 per cent and 3.2 per cent following the spring DST and fall DST transition respectively.7

Health Implications of Time Policy

Overall, in Manitoba the rates of heart attacks and strokes have decreased over time.7 Despite this trend, cardiovascular disease is responsible for one in four deaths (25.3 per cent) and is the second leading cause of premature death in the province.6 In addition, a growing and aging population means that the overall number of people living with chronic conditions is increasing.6 In Manitoba, between 2014 and 2024, there were seven years where the number of hospital admissions for stroke in the week following the transition to DST were higher than baseline.7

Injury and Accidents Studies have linked the spring DST transition to increases in traffic collisions and workplace injuries.14 One U.S. study found a 6 per cent increase in fatal vehicle collisions during the week following the change to DST.3 Historical data from Manitoba Public Insurance has shown a 20 per cent increase in collisions on Manitoba roadways following the spring change to DST compared to all other Mondays.8 Loss of sleep and biological clock disruption are contributing factors.14 The number and severity of workplace injuries have also been found to increase following a change to DST. One U.S. study found a 5.7 per cent increase in injuries on the Monday following the spring DST change, and the injuries that occurred were more severe, resulting in 67.6 per cent more workdays lost.1 Regardless of the season, any sudden schedule change can increase the risk of errors and injuries in sectors where alertness is critical, such as transportation, manufacturing and healthcare. Maintaining a permanent time may eliminate these acute increases in traffic collisions and workplace risk.14

Mental Health and Wellbeing The act of changing to DST in the spring can cause sleep disturbances, which can be linked to worse mood and irritability in the short-term; however, large population study research generally does not show a significant jump in depressive episodes immediately following the spring DST transition. Results from two large studies – one from England and one from Denmark – highlight the lack of consensus on time policy and how geography matters.2,5 In Denmark, one study did not find an increase in the incidence of unipolar depressive episodes following the spring DST transition but did find an 11 per cent increase following the transition back to ST in the fall, which dissipated over a period of roughly 10 weeks.5 Researchers in England found a reduction in the number of events recorded for multiple health conditions in the week after the autumn clock change including anxiety (3 per cent reduction) and depression (4 per cent reduction).2 Little evidence was found that the spring clock changes were associated with a difference in the number of health events recorded in the week after the change. The authors of the English study point to differences in morning light as a potential contributor to the variation in findings compared to the Danish study. The sun generally rises

Health Implications of Time Policy

earlier in England than in Denmark, meaning that people in England will benefit from a greater increase in morning sunlight after the autumn clock change than people in Denmark.2 This reinforces the idea that there is no one size fits all approach. Manitoba’s geography would play an important role in health outcomes related to DST transitions or a change to either permanent ST or DST. Because of our northern latitude, daylight hours in winter are very short, regardless of time. Long winter nights contribute to seasonal affective disorder and winter blues for some people. DST does not create more daylight, but staying on DST in the winter would shift an hour of available light from early morning to late afternoon. For many Manitobans that can mean the difference between leaving work in the daylight versus darkness, which could potentially increase mood and reduce the sense of isolation in the winter. A European study found no overall increase in depression associated with DST and in some cases, measures of life satisfaction increased with more evening daylight. Overall, there is not strong evidence that DST or ST by themselves cause major mental health shifts across the population.14

Time Period

Winnipeg

Thompson

Status Quo

DST

Status Quo

DST

Jun 21 Sunrise

5:20 a.m.

4:20 a.m.

4:43 a.m.

3:43 a.m.

Jun 21 Sunset

9:41 p.m.

8:41 p.m.

10:26 p.m.

9:26 p.m.

Hours of Daylight

16hr 21m

Dec 21 Sunrise

8:24 a.m.

9:24 a.m.

8:24 a.m.

9:05 a.m.

10:05 a.m.

9:05 a.m.

Dec 21 Sunset

4:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

3:57 p.m.

4:57 p.m.

3:57 p.m.

Hours of Daylight

8h 06m

17h 43m

6h 52m

Based on the table above, if Manitoba adopted permanent ST, the sun would rise at 4:20 a.m. and 3:43 a.m. and set at 8:41 p.m. and 9:26 p.m. on summer solstice (June 21) in Winnipeg and Thompson respectively. Alternatively, if Manitoba adopted permanent DST the sun would rise at 9:24 a.m. and 10:05 a.m. and set at 5:30 p.m. and 4:57 p.m. on winter solstice (Dec 21) in Winnipeg and Thompson respectively. Adopting a permanent time could shift individual behaviours and impact different populations and sectors differently depending on the scenario.

Lifestyle Behaviours and Chronic Disease More light in the evenings promotes greater physical activity. A study of children in several countries found that on days with more evening daylight, kids were significantly more active by roughly 20 per cent compared to days with an earlier sunset.4 In both Australia and the UK, extending daylight into post-school hours has been associated with children spending more time playing outside.4 In Manitoba, an extra hour of daylight after work, especially in the winter, could encourage people of all ages to be more active in the evening.

Health Implications of Time Policy

The burden of chronic disease in Manitoba is substantial and accounts for the majority of deaths and hospitalizations in the province.6 In 2022-23, 56.2 per cent of Manitobans age 40 and over had at least one chronic condition.6 Being physically active reduces the risk of over 25 chronic conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, osteoporosis, and depression. Physical activity also enhances mental health and promotes opportunities for stress relief and social connection.6 Even a modest increase in the physical activity levels of Manitobans holds great potential to improve overall population health status and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Conclusion Overall, eliminating the biannual clock change would be better for population health than maintaining the status quo. The most consistent harms linked to the current system occur around the spring transition to DST, when sleep and circadian disruption are associated with short term increases in cardiovascular events, injuries and traffic collisions, and reduced wellbeing. Adopting a permanent time would remove the acute risks that come from switching time twice each year. The long-term health impacts of staying on permanent ST or DST are not well studied. A recent modelling study suggests that both permanent ST and DST could lead to a decrease in the prevalence of stroke and obesity, with ST providing the greater benefit; however, health impact patterns are highly dependent on geography.16 In Saskatchewan, a province that has remained on standard time for decades, obesity has been increasing over time. In 2015, 29.6 per cent of Saskatchewan residents aged 12 years and older were obese, compared to 38.4 per cent in 2022.13 In 2022, Saskatchewan had one of the highest obesity rates of all Canadian provinces, only Newfoundland and Labrador (41.9 per cent) and New Brunswick (43.2 per cent) had higher rates.13 The obesity rate in Manitoba was 33.7 per cent in 2022.13 If ST alone was enough to influence health outcomes, one may expect Saskatchewan to have lower obesity rates than other provinces who have practiced biannual time changes over the same period. This observation highlights that the reduced burden on the circadian system offered by permanent ST may not be enough to improve population health outcomes.

Health Implications of Time Policy

Other potential benefits of DST include decreased all-cause mortality and traffic accidents during the summer months compared to ST. Current evidence suggests that the health effects of permanent DST are neither uniformly harmful or uniformly beneficial as individual baseline health and chronotype, or a person’s natural preference for wakefulness and sleep, can play a role.14 Manitobans experience long summer days and very short winter days regardless of the clock. In that context, the choice between permanent ST and permanent DST is primarily a trade off in when daylight occurs rather than how much daylight is available. Permanent ST would increase morning light, while permanent DST increases light later in the day potentially supporting after work activity and exposure to daylight in the winter months while maintaining long summer evenings that Manitobans are accustomed to. *Note: Manitoba data regarding heart attack and stroke hospitalizations should be interpreted with caution given the overall small numbers. Analysis provided is based on crude numbers and has not been tested for statistical significance.

References 1.

Barnes, C.M., and Wagner, D.T. 2009. “Changing to Daylight Saving Time Cuts Into Sleep and Increases Workplace Injury.” Journal of Applied Psychology.

de Lange M A, Birnie K, Richmond R C, Shapland C Y, Eastwood S V, Tilling K et al. 2025. “Acute effects of daylight saving time clock changes on mental and physical health in England: population based retrospective cohort study.” BMJ 391.

Fritz, J. VoPham, T., Wright Jr., K.P., and Vetter, C. 2020. “A Chronobiological Evaluation of the Acute Effects of Daylight Saving Time on Traffic Accident Risk.” Current Biology.

Goodman, A., Page, A.S., Cooper, A.R. et al. 2014. “Daylight saving time as a potential public health intervention: an observational study of evening daylight and objectively-measured physical activity among 23,000 children from 9 countries.” Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act.

Hansen, B., Sønderskov, K., Hageman, I., Dinesen, P., and Østergaard, S. 2017. “Daylight Savings Time Transitions and the Incidence Rate .” Epidemiology.

Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care. 2025. “A Healthier Manitoba for All: The 2025 Health Status of Manitobans Report.”

Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care, Provincial Information Management and Analytics. 2026.

Manitoba Public Insurance. 2015. “Daylight savings time change has affect on motorists.”

Health Implications of Time Policy

Medina, D., Ebben, M. Milrad, S., Atkinson, B., and Krieger, A. 2015. “Adverse Effects of Daylight Saving Time on Adolescents’ Sleep and Vigilence.” Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

10. National Reserach Council. n.d. “Sunrise/sunset calculator.” https://nrc.canada.ca/en/researchdevelopment/products-services/softwareapplications/sun-calculator/. 11. Sandhu, A., Seth, M., and Gurm, H.S. 2014. “Daylight savings times and myocardial infarction.” Open Heart. 12. Sipilä JO, Ruuskanen JO, Rautava P, Kytö V. 2016. “Changes in ischemic stroke occurrence following daylight saving time transitions.” Sleep Med. 13. Statistics Canada. n.d. “Table 13-10-0096-01 Health characteristics, annual estimates, inactive.” https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/ cv.action?pid=1310009601. 14. Steponenaite, A., Wallraff, J., Wild, U., Brown, L., Bullock, B., Lall, G., Ferguson, S., Foster, R., Walsh, J., Murray, G., Erren, T. and Lewis, P. 2026. “A systematic review of epidemiological studies into daylight-saving time & health identifying beneficial and adverse effects.” European Journal of Epidemiology. 15. The Official Time Act, Continuing Consolidation of the Statutes of Manitoba, c. O30. https://web2.gov. mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/o030.php. 16. Weed, L., and Zeitzer, J.M. 2025. “Circadian-informed modeling predicts regional variation in obesity and stroke outcomes under different permanent US time policies.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.

MBP Accepting Applications for The Environmental Stewardship Award Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) is accepting applications until Friday, December 18, 2026 for consideration for the local awarding of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA). Since 1996, TESA has recognized producers who go above and beyond standard industry conservation practices and set positive examples for other cattle producers and the general public. As stewards of a vast portion of the Canadian landscape, Canada’s beef cattle producers play a significant role in protecting and enhancing the environment. They continuously strive to improve existing stewardship conservation practices to create a sustainable future – always farming for tomorrow. At the local level, a producer receives provincial recognition for their outstanding environmental contributions. In Manitoba, this occurs in conjunction with MBP’s annual general meeting in February. All provincial award recipients then move forward to compete for national recognition from the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA). The national TESA recipient is announced during the CCA’s semi-annual meeting held in mid-summer or early fall. Each nominee exemplifies significant innovation and attention to a wide range of environmental stewardship aspects in their farm or ranch operation. Such innovations extend beneficially to areas far beyond their land, including water, wildlife and air. How to Nominate All beef cattle operations in Canada are eligible to apply for consideration for TESA. Interested producers can either nominate themselves, or be nominated by another individual or an organization. All methods are equally encouraged. More details and the application form can be found at: TESA Information Note: If you are a producer who is considering self-nomination, MBP can provide you with guidance and suggestions on completing the application process. The completed application form, along with all supporting documentation (such as letters of support, photos and/or videos), is to be submitted to Manitoba Beef Producers by email to info@mbbeef.ca no later than Friday, December 18, 2026. If you have questions, please contact the MBP office at 204-772-4542.