Canada's winter clock gap changes hours at 26 ports Nov 1

British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba will not turn their clocks back on November 1, 2026. The United States will. To keep Canadian ports lined up with the U.S. port next door, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is moving its opening and closing times at 26 land ports of entry from 2:00 a.m. local time on November 1, 2026 until 2:00 a.m. on March 14, 2027. The bigger effect for carriers is the clock itself: all winter, each of those provinces runs at least one hour ahead of the U.S. state across the line at these ports.

Why are port hours changing?

CBSA's three news releases of October 9, 2026 give the same reason: each change follows the province's decision to adopt permanent year-round daylight saving time, and the United States "will continue to change its clocks seasonally." Without an adjustment, a Canadian port that opens at 9:00 a.m. would open at 8:00 a.m. on the U.S. clock, an hour before the U.S. port next door. CBSA describes this as an adjustment it makes in the fall and spring.

The provincial basis: British Columbia's government says the March 8, 2026 change was the province's final seasonal change, and that "Pacific time" now sits at UTC-7 year-round. Manitoba's premier signed the proclamation ending clock changes on September 25, 2026. For Alberta, CBSA's own release states the province has adopted permanent daylight time.

Which ports of entry are affected?

Nine in BC, four in Alberta and 13 in Manitoba. The large commercial ports, such as Pacific Highway, Coutts and Emerson, are not on CBSA's list. Most of the 26 have weekday-only commercial windows. Commercial hours below are copied from the CBSA releases; "weekdays" means Monday to Friday excluding holidays. Traveler hours differ at some ports and are in the releases.

British Columbia (Pacific Time)

Alberta (Mountain Time)

Manitoba (Central Time)

What is the winter clock gap?

From November 1, 2026 until U.S. clocks spring forward on March 14, 2027:

• British Columbia stays at UTC-7. Washington and northern Idaho fall back to Pacific Standard Time, UTC-8. BC is one hour ahead. Across from Alaska, at Fraser and Pleasant Camp, BC is two hours ahead, because Alaska falls back to UTC-9. The exception is BC's short border with Montana, where both sides sit at UTC-7 in winter.
• Alberta stays at UTC-6. Montana falls back to Mountain Standard Time, UTC-7. Alberta is one hour ahead.
• Manitoba stays at UTC-5. North Dakota and Minnesota fall back to Central Standard Time, UTC-6. Manitoba is one hour ahead.

A 10:00 a.m. appointment in Calgary is 9:00 a.m. in Great Falls. A receiver in Winnipeg that closes at 5:00 p.m. closes at 4:00 p.m. Fargo time. The gap applies on every lane into or out of these provinces that crosses into a U.S. state on the time zone next door, not only at the 26 ports above.

What should cross-border carriers and brokers do?

• Write appointment times in the receiver's local time, and say which clock. "10:00 a.m. MT" is ambiguous this winter when Alberta and Montana are on different hours.
• Check a port's commercial window before dispatch. Most of the 26 ports close to commercial traffic on weekends. Use the CBSA directory of offices for the port you plan to use.
• Re-read cutoffs in TMS and rate confirmations that were set in "local time" before November 1.

Moving freight across the line? See how Canada freight moves and the U.S.-Canada load board. Brokers post loads and get rates, and carriers find loads, at cargado.com.

Frequently asked questions

Do Canada-U.S. port of entry hours change on November 1, 2026?

At 26 land ports in BC, Alberta and Manitoba, yes. CBSA shifts their hours from 2:00 a.m. local time on November 1, 2026 until 2:00 a.m. on March 14, 2027 so they stay aligned with the U.S. port next door.

Why do the hours change?

British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba adopted permanent year-round daylight saving time, and the United States still falls back in November and springs forward in March.

Which ports are affected?

Nine in BC (Aldergrove, Carson, Cascade, Chopaka, Fraser, Midway, Nelway, Pleasant Camp, Waneta), four in Alberta (Aden, Carway, Del Bonita, Wild Horse) and 13 in Manitoba (Cartwright, Coulter, Crystal City, Goodlands, Gretna, Lena, Lyleton, Piney, Snowflake, South Junction, Tolstoi, Windygates, Winkler). Pacific Highway, Coutts and Emerson are not on the list.

What time is it in Alberta compared with Montana this winter?

Alberta stays at UTC-6 and Montana is on Mountain Standard Time, UTC-7, so Alberta is one hour ahead from November 1, 2026 until March 14, 2027. The same one-hour gap applies between BC and Washington or Idaho, and between Manitoba and North Dakota or Minnesota.

Does the clock gap affect lanes that use the large commercial ports?

The hour shift at ports applies only to the 26 listed. The clock difference, one hour at most ports and two hours where BC meets Alaska, applies to every lane into or out of BC, Alberta and Manitoba, whichever port the truck uses.

Sources

• CBSA news release, Oct 9, 2026: adjusting hours of service at nine land ports of entry in British Columbia
• CBSA news release, Oct 9, 2026: adjusting hours of service at four land ports of entry in Alberta
• CBSA news release, Oct 9, 2026: adjusting hours of service at 13 land ports of entry in Manitoba
• Government of British Columbia: Permanent daylight saving time (Pacific time, UTC-7)
• CP24 / The Canadian Press, Sept 25, 2026: Manitoba premier says time changes are officially over with proclamation signing
• CBSA directory of offices and services
• CBSA office directory: Fraser port of entry (US port: Skagway, AK)