Picture
a tropical paradise with majestic turquoise waters...
gorgeous
beaches and arching swaying palm trees!
Now,
imagine if that destination was officially part of Canada!
It
may seem far-fetched, but MP, Peter Goldring believes Turks and
Caicos, an archipelago of 40 small islands and cays, some 600 square
kilometres (8 of which are inhabited), could one day become the
nation's 11th
Province. And he's been doing his part to make it happen. The idea
of the British Territory joining the Great White North is not a new
one. Currently a British Crown Colony, located north of Haiti and
south-east of Bahamas in the Caribbean Sea, they are an international
investment center for the off-shore investor. Tourism is a major
business here. The 7-mile Grace Bay Beach on the Island of
Providenciale, is rated by travel experts as one of the best beaches
in the world...inclusive of resorts...fishing...snorkelling and scuba
diving as major recreational and scenic attractions.
The
relationship between these islands and Canada
stretch back almost a century to 1917.
stretch back almost a century to 1917.
Negotiation Steps
In
1917,
Prime Minister Robert Borden tried to perusade Great Britain to let
us annex the lands, but was given the 'brush-off'...annexation
considered vastly complicated...health-care, changing of tax
policies, just for starters!.
In
1974,
a private members' bill from a NDP MP examining annexation, with the
Turks, also failed.
In
the 1980's,
according to the Globe and Mail (Toronto), the Turks/Caicos Islands
sent a serious offer to discuss joining Canada...but it was 'politely
ignored' as
politicians grappled with the Canada-United States Trade Agreement
policies instead.
But, Goldring believes the Islands, home to about
300,000 full-time residents, may be a natural fit for Canada.
The
Edmonton-East MP met with the country's premier, Rufus Ewing, at a
reception in Toronto and told The National Post (Toronto) that while
there is still interest in an economic association between the
Islands and Canada, he remains in favour of pursuing 'full
provincial status'.
Goldring told The Post that a Caribbean province could mean
development of a strategic, deep-water trading port for Canada and do
wonders for national unity. “Canadians holiday north and
south...they don't holiday east and west,” he said. “So we don't
get a chance to meet and greet each other on a regular basis.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a common destination in the south?”
Goldring
further stated advnatages in technology and air travel, mean concerns
about distance, no longer apply. “Turks and Caicos are actually
closer to Ottawa, in kilometres, than in my riding in Edmonton
(Alberta),” he told The Post. With air travel and electronic
communication, it's a whole new world!” This Tory MP has been
focused on this issue since at least 2004. In a newsletter, Goldring
wrote that while Canada does not want to be thought of as a 'colonial
power',
the Islanders would welcome an association to help them achieve their
full potential.
“Perhaps
the time has come to end the courtship and finally be wed,”
he wrote. The Province of Nova Scotia fully agrees.
In
2004,
the provinces of 3 political parties voted unanimously
to invite the Turks and Caicos to join as a 'province' . If the
Caribbean islands ever become part of Canada, “What Do You Think?”
Would you like to see the Canadian Government
make moves to bring the Turks and Caicos Islands to Confederation?
There have been many positive comments.
In
2014,
Goldring pitched the idea again saying,
“Canada
really needs a Hawaii!”
The Conservative Government dismissed his request!
Compiled by Merle Baird-Kerr...June 21, 2016
No comments:
Post a Comment