Argenteuil Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Pierre Nantel says the Québec government hopes to determine which time standard the province will adopt year-round before the next seasonal clock change, following its announcement that it intends to end the twice-yearly practice.
Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon announced on Wednesday, October 28, that his government intends to abolish seasonal time changes, with Justice Minister Marie-Claude Sarrazin confirming that legislation will be introduced to bring the change into effect. The announcement came ahead of the return to standard time on Sunday, November 1, which the government hopes will be among the province’s final seasonal clock changes.
However, the government has not yet decided whether the province will retain daylight time or standard time throughout the year.
Nantel discussed the issue with The Review, acknowledging its importance for families and communities, particularly those with close ties to neighbouring Eastern Ontario.
“It’s not the first thing to do, nor is it the most important thing on our agenda, but it had to be spoken about, and everybody’s concerned about it,” Nantel said.
He added that the government intends to undertake the necessary work and consult as widely as possible before making a decision.
Asked whether there was an anticipated timeline for determining which time standard Québec would adopt, Nantel said the government had not provided further details but hoped to settle the matter before the next time change.
The government’s October 28 announcement indicated that consultations with specialists, the public, and opposition parties would begin in the coming months, once parliamentary proceedings resume. The process is expected to take place through a short parliamentary committee.
A previous provincial consultation conducted in 2024 found that 91 per cent of participating Québécers wanted to end the seasonal time change, according to the government’s press release. Of those who favoured ending the practice, 72 per cent wanted to keep daylight time year-round, although the government has yet to determine what time standard it will adopt.
The issue carries implications for residents of Argenteuil and neighbouring Eastern Ontario communities, where cross-border travel is part of daily life for many.
Nantel could not confirm whether formal discussions had taken place between the Québec and Ontario governments about coordinating their approaches. However, he noted that Ontario had previously expressed an intention to coordinate a move to permanent daylight time with Québec and New York.
Ontario passed the Time Amendment Act in 2020, which would make daylight saving time permanent, provided neighbouring jurisdictions made a similar change. However, the legislation has yet to be implemented.
Nantel also noted that Premiers Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and Doug Ford were scheduled to meet on Friday, November 6. While he suggested the time-change issue could be raised during their discussions, he cautioned that he did not know what was on the meeting’s agenda.
“Obviously, we want things to be as simple as possible,” Nantel said.
The public consultation process is another aspect that remains to be clarified.
Nantel said a commission or committee would likely be established to examine the issue, although its format and opportunities for public participation had not yet been determined. He said he would look into whether residents and stakeholders would be able to submit written briefs or participate in person.
Nantel acknowledged the importance of including perspectives from communities such as those in Argenteuil, given their close relationship with Ontario.
“It’s true that Argenteuil has a specific positioning towards Ontario,” he said, adding that the region’s perspective would be worth bringing forward.
No specific date has been announced for a final decision on which time standard Québec will adopt. Details surrounding the legislative process, public consultation, and coordination with Ontario remain to be established.
