The Yukon will join other jurisdictions in adopting the daylight saving time extension in 2007, Premier Dennis Fentie announced late this morning.

The move will give Yukoners an extra month of daylight saving time each year.

'The Government of Yukon has decided to incorporate the time extension in order to best align ourselves with our business partners in Canada and the United States,' Fentie said in a statement.

'The Yukon government evaluated the options of adopting the new daylight saving time and recognized the need to minimize disruptions associated with business activities, including travel and telecommunications.'

The U.S. Congress adopted a provision in the American Energy Policy Act to extend daylight hours as an energy-saving measure.

So far, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island have accepted and agreed to implement the new time change.

The new extension means daylight saving time will be in effect for an extra month each year, beginning on the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

Starting in 2007, Yukoners will put their clocks ahead an hour on March 11 and set their clocks behind an hour on Nov. 4.

Synchronizing with the extended daylight saving time period will minimize impacts on banking and business transactions, Fentie said.

This is especially important for telecommunications and scheduled transportation services, including airlines, ferries and buses that make connections with other jurisdictions in Canada and the U.S.