Spring forward, fall back or no flipping at all? Quebec is mulling what to do with time change.
Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette announced a public consultation Tuesday, saying people can weigh in with their opinions online on the possibility of abolishing the twice-yearly changing of the clocks.
“We want to hear from you on the question of time change in Quebec,” Jolin-Barrette told reporters at the provincial legislature in Quebec City.
The province also hopes to hear how Quebecers from all walks of life currently deal with the twice-annual ritual, according to Jolin-Barrette. He noted the time change has a number of negative health effects, especially on children and teenagers.
The majority of Canadian provinces abide by the seasonal change, but Yukon and most of Saskatchewan keep their clocks the same year-round.
Quebec Premier François Legault had previously suggested he wasn’t opposed to the idea of scrapping it, but that it wasn’t a priority. Meanwhile, Ontario officials have said they would move on Daylight Saving Time (DST) if neighbouring New York and Quebec did.
When asked, Jolin-Barrette said Quebec will make its own decision and isn’t bound by the choices of its neighbours.
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“We will take into consideration all those elements,” he said.
The public consultations will be held online starting Tuesday through December. It includes a short questionnaire and citizens can also submit briefs on the topic.
Jolin-Barrette said the government could then table legislation to abolish the practice — but he didn’t say whether the province would prefer to scrap daylight time or make it permanent.
“We will see in the next few months what we will do with the consultations of Quebecers,” he said.
The announcement comes as most Canadians are set to turn their clocks back an hour early on the morning of Nov. 3, and will set them forward again on March 9, 2025.
— with files from Global’s Uday Rana, Saba Aziz and The Canadian Press
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