| Victoria, BC, Canada - 31st March 2006 Starting in 2007, Daylight Saving Time
in British Columbia will begin three weeks earlier in the spring and last
one week longer, Attorney General Wally Oppal announced today following a
four-week public consultation.
“Adjusting our Daylight Saving Time dates will align us with the United
States and other Canadian provinces,” Oppal said. “During a month-long
consultation, we received 4,296 written and electronic submissions from the
public, business and other organizations. Over 90 per cent were in favour of
the change.”
Beginning in 2007, Daylight Saving Time (DST) in most of B.C. will begin
three weeks earlier, on the second Sunday in March – March 11, 2007. The
period will end on the first Sunday in November – that is Nov. 4, 2007.
Exceptions will be those areas of the province that have historically chosen
to observe different times for all or part of the year. The Peace River
region does not observe DST, so its clocks will not change. The East
Kootenay region observes Mountain Time, and will likely continue to
synchronize its clocks with Alberta.
“It’s a smart move for businesses like tourism, travel and
telecommunications, and means we will be in sync with much of the country
and our biggest trade partner – the United States,” Oppal said. “Provinces
that have already announced they will adopt the change include Alberta,
Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and New Brunswick.”
The DST change was adopted in the United States as part of its Energy
Policy Act. It was brought forward as an energy-saving policy, since DST
shifts an hour of daylight time from morning to evening, which is the period
of greatest energy usage.
The Attorney General is responsible for the Interpretation Act, which
includes reference to time and is the authority under which Daylight Saving
Time is prescribed in the province.
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