Running on Empty: 41% of Canadians Face a Dangerous Sleep Debt

MISSISSAUGA, ON – March 03, 2026 – As Canadians prepare to spring their clocks forward for Daylight Saving Time, a new national survey reveals a stark and troubling reality: the one-hour disruption is merely a symptom of a much deeper, year-round public health crisis. According to a new Leger survey commissioned by pharmaceutical company Eisai Limited, a staggering 41% of Canadians are getting less than the recommended seven hours of sleep per night, plunging them into what experts call a state of “sleep debt.”

This isn't just about feeling a bit groggy. The findings point to significant risks to public safety and personal well-being that have become dangerously normalized. Most alarmingly, nearly one in five Canadians (18%) admit to having driven a vehicle while feeling unsafe after losing an hour of sleep to the time change. That number climbs to 23% among those already living with chronic sleep debt, turning a common annual ritual into a potential life-or-death gamble on the nation's roads.

The Anatomy of a Sleepless Nation

The survey, which polled over 1,500 Canadian adults, paints a picture of a country struggling not just with the quantity, but the quality of its rest. The issue extends far beyond the temporary fatigue associated with Daylight Saving Time. Among the millions of Canadians in sleep debt, 57% report struggling to fall asleep, while an even greater 71% have difficulty staying asleep. This indicates a pattern of persistent, fragmented rest rather than occasional tiredness.

Even more telling is the fact that sleep disruption is not confined to the sleep-deprived. The data shows that nearly two-thirds (65%) of Canadians who report getting the recommended seven or more hours of sleep still struggle with either falling or staying asleep. This suggests that simply being in bed for the right amount of time does not guarantee the restorative rest necessary for optimal health.

“People who struggle with sleep often push through their daily activities despite feeling persistently fatigued, simply because they feel they have no choice,” said Dr. David Greenberg, a primary care physician with an interest in sleep, in a statement accompanying the survey results. “But that fatigue is a clear signal from the body that it isn't getting the restorative sleep it needs. Unfortunately, many Canadians have come to accept that level of exhaustion as normal. It isn't.”

This normalization is a key part of the crisis. While Statistics Canada data from 2020 suggested about 77% of adults met sleep duration guidelines, experts have long warned that duration alone is a poor measure of sleep health. The new Leger data, focusing on quality and real-world impact, aligns with other findings showing that nearly half of all Canadians report trouble sleeping, with insomnia rates having increased by 42% since 2007.

The High Cost of National Exhaustion

The consequences of this collective exhaustion ripple through every aspect of society, from public safety to economic productivity. The admission of unsafe driving post-DST is backed by broader research. Independent studies have shown that the spring time change is associated with a spike in traffic accidents, with one Canadian analysis finding an 8% average increase on the Monday following the transition. Beyond the roads, U.S. data has shown workplace injuries climb by nearly 6% on the same day, leading to a 68% increase in lost workdays.

This lost productivity carries a massive price tag. A 2016 study estimated that sleep deprivation costs the Canadian economy up to $21.4 billion annually—or 1.35% of its GDP—through absenteeism and presenteeism, where employees are physically present but mentally checked out. The report calculated that approximately 80,000 working days are lost each year due to a tired workforce.

The long-term health implications are just as severe. Chronic sleep debt is linked to a 13% higher mortality risk and is a known contributor to serious physical illnesses like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, as well as mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

The Business of Waking Up

The company that commissioned this revealing survey, Eisai Limited, is not a disinterested observer. As the Mississauga-based Canadian subsidiary of a global pharmaceutical firm focused on neurology and oncology, its interest in sleep is both strategic and clinical. Eisai is the developer of Dayvigo (lemborexant), a prescription medication for insomnia that was approved by Health Canada.

Unlike traditional sleep aids, Dayvigo is a dual orexin receptor antagonist, a newer class of drug that works by selectively blocking signals from orexin, a neurotransmitter that promotes wakefulness. By commissioning a survey that highlights the prevalence of poor sleep quality—specifically the difficulty in falling and staying asleep—the company is effectively building public awareness of the very problem its product is designed to treat. This move is indicative of a broader trend in the pharmaceutical industry to address the massive, and often undertreated, market for sleep disorders.

Searching for a Solution

While pharmaceutical interventions are one option, experts stress the importance of a comprehensive approach. Dr. Greenberg noted that while many people turn to short-term fixes, persistent sleep difficulties often require professional guidance. “If your sleep challenges aren't tied to temporary life circumstances like caring for a newborn... it's important to speak with a healthcare professional about strategies and treatment options,” he advised.

Canada has a growing infrastructure of private and public sleep clinics, such as MedSleep and the Leon Judah Blackmore Centre for Sleep Disorders at UBC Hospital, which offer diagnostic services and treatments. These range from medical therapies to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), a highly effective, non-pharmacological treatment.

However, significant gaps remain. Access to specialized care can be uneven across the country, and many conditions like obstructive sleep apnea remain widely undiagnosed. The survey's findings serve as a critical reminder that as the clocks change, the conversation around sleep needs to shift from a temporary inconvenience to a permanent public health priority.