The Quebec government is considering doing away with the time change which, every year, moves clocks an hour ahead in the springtime, shifting the province into daylight saving time, and an hour back in the fall, moving the province back into eastern standard time.
As part of its mulling, the government is asking the public what they make of the matter – keep the time change, or ditch it?
Here at THE EQUITY, we decided to do the same. We asked 24 Pontiac residents going about their errands at grocery stores in Shawville and Fort Coulonge what they thought of the time jump forward and back every year.
Half thought it was time to get rid of the time change, four people thought we should keep it, and eight didn’t mind either way.
Of the people surveyed, only three people said they preferred the winter hours (eastern standard time) while 13 said they preferred the summer hours (daylight saving time).
“I find it’s a nuisance actually, to change it,” said Angelika Beverdam, a retired Shawville resident.
“Sometimes you lose sleep, sometimes you gain sleep, it’s crazy.”
Gabriel Lemaire works as a coordinator with AutonHomme in Campbell’s Bay. Lemaire is also a parent, but he says that the time change should stay.
“It’s a reminder of the change of season,” he said. “The kids get used to it being dark out and it has a good impact on our young kids.”
Gerry Graveline, a foreman with the municipality of Litchfield, doesn’t mind what the province does but said that the change can be confusing.
“Early in the morning, everybody’s sleeping so it’s sort of a waste of time,” he said. “When you change over, your body’s like, ‘What’s going on?’”
What do you think about the matter? Answer THE EQUITY’s opinion poll online at theequity.ca/polls.
Those wishing to share their thoughts with the province can do so until Dec. 1 at https://consultation.quebec.ca/processes/changement-heure?locale=en.
