Quebec Premier Announces Plan to End Seasonal Clock Changes
Quebec's government will hold hearings and a parliamentary commission to decide whether to adopt permanent daylight or standard time, aiming to end the annual clock shift.
Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said his government intends to abolish the biannual switch between daylight-saving and standard time. While the province has not yet chosen which system to keep year-round, he posted on social media that residents will likely set their clocks back one hour this weekend for the final time.
The premier cited health studies that link the time shift to negative effects and noted that children find the adjustment particularly difficult. He announced a series of expert hearings and a short parliamentary commission in the coming months before a final decision is made.
"Dear parents who have to spend several weeks managing your children’s reaction to this time change, this is likely the last year we’ll be imposing such unnecessary constraints on ourselves. We invite the public to follow our work closely," Plamondon wrote.
A 2024 online consultation conducted by the former Coalition Avenir Québec government showed that 91 % of roughly 214,000 respondents wanted to end the time change, with 72 % favoring permanent daylight time. Former justice minister Simon Jolin-Barrette highlighted that the consultation also raised concerns from sleep experts and the need for alignment with neighboring jurisdictions.
Justice Minister Marie-Claude Sarrazin said the government will follow all procedural steps to ensure a smooth transition.
"We wanted to announce our intentions at the start of the time change. For the rest, we’ll prepare our work plans and we’ll consult with people so that things are done in an orderly way, including with our neighbours," she said.
Conservative leader Éric Duhaime expressed support for ending the clock shift but warned that coordination with Ontario is essential to avoid cross-border complications.
"I lived in the west when Saskatchewan decided to end the time change and the neighbouring provinces didn’t, and it caused all sorts of problems. You know that the economies of Quebec and Ontario are interconnected," Duhaime said.
Health experts cited in a recent Canadian Medical Association Journal analysis argue that permanent standard time aligns better with the body’s circadian rhythm, though proponents of permanent daylight time point to later winter sunsets. If Quebec proceeds, it would join British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, which have already adopted permanent daylight time, while other provinces continue to evaluate the change.