USA/Canada Start Daylight Saving Time on March 8, 2009

Many clocks will turn one hour ahead when daylight saving time (DST) arrives in most parts of the United States and Canada on Sunday, March 8, 2009. This is the earliest starting date for the current daylight saving schedule, which begins on the second Sunday of March and lasts until the first Sunday of November.

Many people in the United States and Canada will turn their clocks one hour forward on Sunday, March 8, 2009.

The clocks will move forward from 2am to 3am at local time in many parts of North America when the daylight saving schedule starts. Daylight saving time allows for more light during the evening hours and less in the morning.
Earliest Start and End Dates

The earliest daylight saving date is always March 8 with the current daylight saving arrangements in the United States and Canada. This is because governments in both countries organized for the daylight saving schedule to start on the second Sunday of March each year.

The earliest second Sunday of the month always falls on eighth day of the month, according to the Gregorian calendar, which is used in many western countries. The same rule applies to the earliest second Monday of the month, second Tuesday of the month, second Wednesday of the month and so forth.

The daylight saving end date in the USA and Canada also occurs at its earliest in 2009 – on November 1 – as the current schedule lasts for 34 weeks and ends on the first Sunday of November.
USA and Canada’s Daylight Saving Schedule

Daylight saving time in many parts of the United States lines up with section 110 of the United States’ Energy Policy Act of 2005, which states that daylight saving time would begin on the second Sunday of March and it would end on first Sunday of November. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 does not alter the rights of the states and territories that choose not to observe daylight saving time.

Time zones and daylight saving time in Canada is determined by provincial legislation and exceptions may exist in some municipalities. Timeanddate.com’s Daylight Saving Time Dates for 2009 has more detailed information about the daylight saving end date for the United States and Canada, as well as other parts of the world.
What People Do for DST

For many people, moving the clock an extra hour forward may mean one “less” hour of sleep prior to the changeover. Some people believe that health problems are associated with daylight saving time. For others, daylight saving time means the beginning of lighter afternoons combined with longer hours of daylight as the warmer months approach in North America. The Daylight saving start date may also serve as a reminder for people who need to change the batteries in their alarm clocks, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
Areas Without Daylight Saving Time

States and territories in the United States that do not observe daylight saving time include: Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and most of Arizona except the Navajo Nation Community. Some parts of Indiana previously did not observe daylight saving time but the state is now united in observing the schedule despite being split into different time zones.

There are a few exceptions to daylight saving time in Canada: some areas of Québec, east of 63° west longitude, remain on Atlantic Standard Time (AST) all year round; most of Saskatchewan uses Central Standard Time (CST) all year round; and Southampton Island remains on Eastern Standard Time (EST) all year long.
Growing Resistance in the USA

Political leaders and community representatives in some parts of the United States tried to abolish daylight saving time in recent times. For example, a bill (HB19) in Alaska recently called for the state and its political subdivisions to be exempt from daylight saving time. Many people in Montana also pushed for their state to scrap daylight saving time. Moreover, an ongoing debate continues in Indiana regarding daylight saving time and time zone issues.

The push to abolish daylight saving time still continues in some communities despite a recent US government report that showed findings in favor of daylight saving time. The report, which was released in late 2008, showed that the extended schedule saved energy.

- www.timeanddate.com