Canada open to sunny union (Turks & Caicos Islands)

Canada open to sunny union
PM speaks to Turks and Caicos Islands about closer ties
Monday, April 12, 2004

...

Martin recently called Michael Misick, chief minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and invited him to Ottawa for talks, officials from both countries confirmed. Misick has accepted the invitation to come to Ottawa, but no date has been set for the meeting.

"They were introductory talks," Misick said Sunday, describing the discussion with Martin as cordial. "Obviously, there was no commitment. Just an agreement that some time in the future, we will meet in Ottawa to pursue things," he said.

...

The idea of bringing the islands into the Canadian federation gained widespread attention when it was put forward by NDP MP Max Saltsman in the 1970s. The proposal was revived in the 1980s after a delegation from the islands came to Ottawa seeking political union. Bureaucrats in Ottawa rejected that proposal, fearing Canada might look like a colonizing power.

In January, Misick told the TV current affairs program Global Sunday that his government was prepared to engage in bilateral talks aimed at forming a political and economic union with Canada, should the people of both nations endorse the concept. The issue was resuscitated by the producers of the television program and not by officials of either government. Martin has not dismissed the idea out of hand.

http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=fd977047-7882-4171-bc73-d6215daf4d8c

They have been up here a couple of times trying to join Canada...We would have our own "tropical paradise" for vacationing (using Canadian money) and the young people would have a place to go for spring break! This would benefit Canada's economy. It's not as if we have been trying to foist ourselves on them...As I remember it, the original request was from them....I say GO FOR IT!

What liabilities would we incur if we were to annex the Turks and Caicos Islands? It looks like a good proposal, but is there more to it than meets the eye?

The idea was dropped in the 70s for fear of appearing like a colonial power, which was noble. But it's an idea which comes from the T&C itself, and it wouldn't be annexation, but a political union.

The population is about 20,000, pretty close to the Yukon. So let's grant it territorial status and its residents full citizenship.

we go to turks & caicos every year, usually off-season in late fall. it is truly a jewel in the sun.

have been going since 1994, last year we noticed things are changing rapidly, alot of canadians there, esp. selling real estate. i just hope they don't turn it into a Bahamas or Cayman Island type venture, unfortunately we see it headed in that direction with all the development on grace bay beach. i fear TCI will become a victim of its own success :(

(Assuming he's still alive.) :silly:

I'll believe it when I see it. Nearly everyone I know thinks it's a good idea, too.
The problem has been the politicians. As I recall, the PC's and their ilk objected because they said that all the T & C'ers would immediately apply for UI (sorry, EI!), thus creating a drain on our resources. Kind of hard to imagine, with a population of only 20,000.

See here http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/tk.html

...establishing a Southern Front!

n/t

The nearby continental shelf offers fabulous wall dives.

Sure would be a nice place to spend the winter!

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The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands are presently a British overseas territory.
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Jim POSTON (since 16 December 2002)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed chief minister by the governor
head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council
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Whoa!