Dear Editor,
On Calgary Global TV Morning News on Dec. 28, a scroll across the bottom of the screen said “Alberta government seriously thinking of doing away with daylight savings time.”
I could not believe what my eyes were seeing. It has been used for 75 years or more in Canada and the U.S. (Except for Saskatchewan and Arizona). Why? Because it saves electricity and gives everyone more daylight in the evening rather than at 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. I have not seen or heard anything on the subject since then. Is it a government “trial balloon” to see if anyone complains, and if it’s not, then do it.
If Daylight Savings Time was cancelled it would have a devastating effect on all recreational sporting activities across the province that normally play from 6 p.m. to dusk, be it baseball, soccer, softball, tennis, golf played by all age groups from eight to 85-plus.
Losing an hour of daylight in the evening would cut the available daylight time.
It is a proven fact that exercise and recreational sports activities improve a person’s health, both physically and mentally, and result in less strain on the health care system.
The sports facilities that have floodlights would of course be turning them on at dusk, 7:30 p.m. or sooner. Houses would also be turning on lights an hour earlier.
For a government that has given us a carbon tax and preaches a green footprint, this move makes no sense, and in fact would be insanity.
I hope that clearer heads will prevail and we can all continue to have the benefits of Daylight Savings Time.
A concerned Softball Player
Bob Russell
MD of Foothills
