Two Ottawa councillors want the City of Ottawa and Ontario to stop changing the clocks twice a year, especially if Quebec decides to scrap the seasonal time change. A motion from Coun. Shawn Menard, seconded by Coun. Marty Carr, calls on the city to write the Ontario government and local MPPs to “encourage them to support the elimination of twice-year time changes throughout Ontario.” The motion was tabled at Thursday’s council meeting. British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba have stopped the annual practice of switching between daylight saving time and standard time. Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said on social media two weeks ago that Nov. 1 was “very likely” be the last time Quebecers turn back the clocks. Plamondon said the government will consult “all the specialists” to determine whether Quebec will remain on daylight time or standard time year around. If Quebec cancels the semi-annual time change and Ontario continues to change the clocks twice a year, it will create two time zones in the national capital region. Menard says if Quebec scraps the semi-annual time change, there are concerns of “significant impacts” to residents of the national capital region, “many of whom regularly cross the provincial border between Ontario and Quebec, if changes are implemented on the Gatineau side and not the Ontario side.” The newly elected council will debate the motion at its first meeting on Nov. 27.
