Ontario MPPs Pass Bill to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent, Pending Quebec and New York to Follow Suit

$700 Million Worth of Australian Coal Held up at Chinese Ports

Over $700 million worth of Australian coal exports have been anchored off the coast of China for months over apparent issues with environmental standards. It is believed around 50 vessels containing the coal are waiting around Chinese ports, as safety and quality inspections prevent the exports coming ashore, according to Bloomberg. Resources Minister Keith Pitt said the government was working with exporters to resolve the issues. “We are aware of longer port processing times for Australian coal, particularly at this time of year,” he told AAP on Thursday. “We continue to engage with industry about the impact that unofficial restrictions are having on resources exporters,” he said. The coal delays come as the latest in an array of trade-related strikes against Australian exports to the country, which has ensnared the…

Ontario MPPs have voted to end the biannual practice of changing the clocks for daylight saving time, but will await Quebec and the state of New York to sign on similar laws before making the change.

Bill 214, Time Amendment Act, 2020, which would make daylight saving time the standard time, passed the third reading stage on Nov. 25, 2020.

It was originally tabled (pdf) by Ottawa West-Nepean PC MPP Jeremy Roberts in October 2020.

“I’m thrilled to announce that the Legislative Assembly of Ontario has just unanimously voted to pass Bill 214, to end the clock changes,” Roberts wrote on Twitter. “I’m looking forward to reaching out to colleagues in Quebec and New York State, so that together, we can end this outdated practice.”

During the second reading stage on Oct. 7, Roberts said the decision reflects recent studies that showed that time change may lead to “adverse health” issues, including higher levels of depression and increased chances of strokes.

The legislation will only come into effect “in coordination” with New York State and Quebec. With New York City, the consideration was for the benefit of Ontario’s markets to share the same time zones; and for Quebec, the cooperation is considered necessary due to logistical reasons.

Some Canadian jurisdictions like Saskatchewan and the Yukon have already abandoned the time-change tradition. Alberta and British Columbia are also considering shrugging off the practice.

The jurisdictions that have considered ending the practice debated on whether to settle with permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time. Roberts said Bill 214 decided to go with the latter because more sunlight in the evening “will likely generate more economic activity” and reduce robberies, quoting studies by JPMorgan Chase and Brookings Institution.

Bill 214 still needs to receive royal assent from Ontario lieutenant governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell.

The Time Amendments Act consequentially affects other Acts, including the Election Act, the Labour Relations Act, 1995, and the Mining Act.

Focus News: Ontario MPPs Pass Bill to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent, Pending Quebec and New York to Follow Suit

Milwaukee County Finds 65 Missing Ballots in Voting Machine

After adding up totals in their recount, election officials from Milwaukee County in Wisconsin realized they were 65 ballots short—later unearthing them in a voting machine. It is the second time election officials have found a batch of uncounted ballots in the county as part of the state’s partial recount. The results of the recount are now expected to be announced on Friday after Thanksgiving break. Recounts are taking place in Milwaukee and Dane counties at the request of the Trump campaign, which alleges irregularities in the Nov. 3 election in Wisconsin, including “illegally altered absentee ballots.” The deadline for the recount is Dec. 1. Milwaukee County election workers had almost completed the recount of the 460,000 ballots on Nov. 25 when they found they were 65 votes short of the numbers counted…