Cranking back the clocks on October 31 was a cause for celebration for the McGill community. An extra hour of Halloweekend was welcomed with open arms –that is, until the sun started setting at 5:00 p.m. the following evening. Many of us have mixed feelings about the transitions between standard time and daylight saving time, and this is even reflected nationally, as many provinces, including British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon and the Northwest Territories, have adopted permanent daylight saving time, meaning they no longer switch back, while others continue to change the clocks. The temporary feeling may be great, but what are the real implications of setting the clock back one hour, and why was the practice introduced in the first place?
Several theories surround the origins of daylight saving time, with some linking the practice to economic interests and others to agriculture. However, its history reveals a more varied motivation: making better use of sunlight in several ways. In 1907, British builder William Willett published The Waste of Daylight, arguing that much of the morning’s natural sunlight was wasted while people slept, leaving little daylight for leisure activities after work. Although Willett acknowledged the potential economic benefits of reducing reliance on artificial lighting, his primary motivation was reportedly to give people more opportunities to enjoy daylight in the evenings.
Interestingly, Canada is where the practice was first tested. In 1908, Port Arthur, Ontario, now part of Thunder Bay, became the first municipality in the world to implement daylight saving time, giving residents an additional hour of evening sunlight. However, it was not until the First World War that the practice spread internationally. In 1916, Germany became the first country to implement daylight saving time nationwide, hoping to conserve fuel by reducing reliance on artificial lighting. Canada followed in 1918, adopting the practice federally as a wartime energy-conservation measure.
More than a century later, the question remains: does changing our clocks actually conserve energy, or has the practice outlived its original purpose–and should Quebec also hop on the bandwagon to stop this change?
Oddly, it may not seem as obvious how time changes affect us, especially since most of the McGill community is young adults, making it easy to bounce back from one hour lost or gained. However, this is not the case for everyone. Individuals with certain medical conditions can be particularly affected by such time changes, which can disrupt symptoms and medication timing, as well as cause confusion for people suffering from Alzheimer’s and Dementia. As well, new research finds that in the United States, fatal car crashes increase by 6% the week following the transition to daylight saving time. Additionally, public surveys and health assessments have shown overwhelming support for ending clock changes, with governments citing reduced sleep disruption, better general well-being, and fewer safety or scheduling hassles for families. Given the potential public health and safety costs, many believe the perceived benefits, including additional vitamin D and economic benefits, may be relatively marginal.
These concerns have contributed to growing discussions about whether seasonal clock changes remain necessary. In Quebec, the debate has gained momentum following a 2024 public consultation in which approximately 91% of respondents supported eliminating the twice-yearly clock changes.
On October 28, 2026, the new Parti Québécois (PQ) government announced plans to table a bill by spring 2027 to officially end the practice, although it has yet to determine whether the province will adopt permanent daylight saving time or standard time. As the provincial government considers its next steps, the debate extends beyond the inconvenience of adjusting our clocks twice a year. With implications for public health, economic activity, and coordination with neighbouring provinces, the decision raises broader questions about how we organize our time. For now, McGill students can enjoy their extra hour of Halloweekend, even if it means saying goodbye to the evening sun.
