A vast online public consultation was launched this Tuesday by François Legault's government concerning the abolition of time change in Quebec.

Every year, in Quebec and elsewhere in the country, citizens are forced to change the time twice, on the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November. 

Originally, the aim was to shift the clocks to save energy. In fact, taking advantage of natural light as late as possible enabled workers to finish their duties later.

Germany was the first country to adopt this idea, in 1916, proposed by American physicist Benjamin Franklin in 1784.

In 1918, Canada followed in the Nordic European country's footsteps, introducing its first law to implement the cycle. Today, barely 20% of the world's population changes time during the year.

Health effects

For several years now, many experts have been examining the effects of the time change on our health. 

Indeed, a number of specialists have questioned the effects of time change on our biological clock, as well as on our sleep cycle. 

While young children and the elderly, for whom routine is important, are particularly vulnerable to the time change, pets can also be affected. 

Cats and dogs may experience behavioral changes linked to stress and confusion.

Public consultation

The Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, is inviting the public to express their views on the abolition of the time change by December 1, by responding to a brief questionnaire on the consultation.quebec.ca website.

Following the consultation and in light of the results, the government will determine whether it will go ahead with a bill on the issue.

That said, whatever the results of the consultation, we'll have to turn back the clock on the night of November 2 to 3.