Letters to the Editor

Open Letter from Mayor Lawrance Regarding Time Zone Discussion

Oct 1 2026
Type(s)
Public Notice

The Municipality of Sioux Lookout is sharing an open letter from Mayor Doug Lawrance to MPP Sol Mamakwa regarding the ongoing discussion surrounding a potential time zone change in Northwestern Ontario.
The letter is available below for public review.

October 1, 2026
MPP Sol Mamakwa
Unit 104, 73 King St.
P.O. Box 176
Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1A1
Sent via email: [email protected]

Dear Mr. Mamakwa:
Re: Time Zone Change Discussion – Open Letter

Thank you very much for your leadership on the time zone issue which has come up so quickly in recent weeks. It certainly made sense for you and Minister Rickford to handle that at the riding level in Northwestern Ontario. I have appreciated your discussions and updates with me over the past two weeks. We encouraged Sioux Lookout residents to participate in the survey that you put forward on social media.
As I currently understand the situation, there is significant support to “go with Manitoba” and stay on Central Daylight Saving Time permanently. If no changes are made in Thunder Bay, the change to permanent DST would keep us on the same time as Manitoba throughout the year, the same time as Thunder Bay in the winter months, and one hour behind Thunder Bay in the summer months.
There have been concerns expressed, including by both Sioux Lookout and Red Lake hospitals, that if we end up with too many time zone situations, there may be significant impacts on systems that are not easily or quickly addressed. A sentiment that I have heard is that the region must be coordinated in whatever is adopted and that the change should result in time differences within the region that do not increase the level of complexity. Mayor Fred Mota of Red Lake has told me that Red Lake is supporting the move to permanent DST.
Based on our conversation earlier this week, it is my understanding that in the early part of October, you will be seeking input from representative First Nation agencies in your riding and that you will let us know the results by mid-October. We have a Municipal Council meeting scheduled for October 21. I have asked staff to put an item on the agenda of our October meeting for time zone discussion. We will take into account any information you can give us from your survey and discussions throughout the riding. There seems to be considerable public support in Sioux Lookout to move to permanent DST. If you report this is the case throughout the riding, I will ask Council to consider passing a resolution that supports the change to permanent DST and that the resolution be forwarded to the Province through appropriate channels.
Thank you again, and we look forward to hearing from you in mid-October.
Respectfully,
THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF SIOUX LOOKOUT
Mayor Doug Lawrance
Email: [email protected]
cc:
Council, Municipality of Sioux Lookout
Brian P. MacKinnon, CAO & Municipal Clerk
Dean Osmond, CEO, Meno Ya Win Health Centre