This could be last time Quebecers turn back clocks, what does that mean for Ottawa?

This weekend could be the last time Quebecers turn back their clocks.

Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says his PQ government intends to abolish the time change in Quebec. It remains to be seen, however, whether daylight saving time or standard time will be kept year-round. The newly elected premier wrote on social media Wednesday morning that Quebecers will “most likely” set their clocks back one hour for the “last time” on the night between Saturday and Sunday.

His government intends to end this practice, which, according to several studies, is “counterproductive to health” and poses “adjustment difficulties for children,” he noted.

To determine whether standard time (winter time) or daylight saving time (summer time) will be retained permanently, St-Pierre Plamondon plans to consult with experts during a series of hearings set to begin “in the coming months.”

By keeping daylight saving time year-round, Quebecers would enjoy a later sunset during the winter. However, this would mean the sun would rise an hour later in the winter, which could have negative consequences, according to several experts.

An analysis published a few weeks ago by four researchers from British Columbia in the Canadian Medical Association Journal concluded that, when abolishing the time change, it would be preferable to keep standard time year-round.

What does this mean for Ottawa?

If Quebec were to change, it would add more pressure to Ontario.

Last week, Ontario set to move parts of the province’s northwest region to permanent daylight time in order to align with Manitoba.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford said there is overwhelming consensus among municipalities, First Nations and businesses to make the time change permanent.

Rickford says the province intends to make a regulatory change in the Time Act on Nov. 1 to allow regions west of the 90th meridian to align with Manitoba.

In 2020, Ontario passed a law to make daylight saving time permanent, but it has not yet taken effect. The province noted that coordination with its neighbors, such as Quebec and New York State, was essential.

“I just think it would be a logistical nightmare for us if for half the year Quebec and Ontario were on different times and you would have people trying to drive back and forth for meetings and trying to keep track of which time is which,” said Jeremy Roberts, former MPP for Ottawa West-Napean, said in 2022. “It would just end up being a mess. I really do think we need to get Quebec on board.”

If Quebec were to move forward with abolishing daylight saving time, it would follow in the footsteps of several Canadian provinces—including British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba—which ended the practice this year.

These three provinces have chosen to keep daylight saving time year-round, as have the Northwest Territories.

Many of those in favour of a permanent move to Daylight Save Time point to the regular uptick in vehicle collisions following time changes.

Those against the move argue that bi-annual time changes ensure brighter mornings. If Ontario moves to permanent Daylight Saving Time, cities like Ottawa wouldn’t see dawn break until about 8:45 a.m. in December and January.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews