This weekend may be the last time Quebec falls back.

Twice a year, Quebecers perform a small ritual of adjustment: the clocks move, the light shifts, and the body takes days or weeks to follow. The Parti Québécois has now said that this weekend’s wind-back will be the last, if its promised legislation passes. It is a policy announcement that sounds minor and feels, to many, like a relief.

Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon made the commitment in a social media post, framing it around parents managing their children’s reactions to the change . The PQ plans to table a bill in the coming months and hold parliamentary committee hearings on whether Quebec should adopt permanent daylight time or permanent standard time . The party had campaigned on the issue, citing health concerns.

The ground for this move was prepared years ago. A 2024 online consultation by the previous CAQ government found that 90 percent of participating Quebecers favored ending the time change . The CAQ did not act, with a former justice minister citing the need for further consultation on expert opinions and alignment with neighboring jurisdictions . The PQ has now picked up the file and moved it forward.

The practical consequences extend beyond Quebec’s borders. Ontario passed a law in 2020 to end the time change, but only if Quebec and New York did the same . In the National Capital Region, more than a quarter of Gatineau residents cross into Ontario for work, and a one-hour difference between Ottawa and Gatineau during daylight months would complicate schedules, transit, and cross-border business . In New Brunswick, border mayors have expressed concern about confusion if Quebec moves alone .

The choice between permanent daylight and permanent standard time is not a technicality. It determines whether winter mornings will be darker or evenings longer. Sleep researchers have generally favored standard time for circadian health, while public preference often leans toward daylight time’s later sunsets. The PQ has said it will hear from experts before deciding .

British Columbia, Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Manitoba have already moved to stop switching clocks, while Yukon and Saskatchewan have not observed the change for years . Quebec’s decision, if it comes, would add the weight of a populous province to a patchwork that is slowly becoming the norm.

For now, the clocks will fall back this weekend as they always have. The bill has not been tabled, the committee has not met, and the choice between daylight and standard remains open. What the PQ has offered is a promise that the ritual has an end date—and that next November, the light will stay where it is.

Image Disclaimer: The image accompanying this article was created by artificial intelligence and does not depict any real clock, person, or government proceeding.

Sources: CBC News, Radio-Canada, CityNews Montreal