[ISL] "Turks and Caicos premier 'not closing the door' on Canadians' Caribbean dreams"

[rfmcdonald]

CTV's Andrea Janus reports on the latest intimations of the possibility of expanding the Canadian federation to the Caribbean, with the leader of the Turks and Caicos making broad hints that have been received in the same way by his homologues on a visit to Ottawa.

Given today's beautiful weather, the idea of a Canadian Caribbean enclave that would be warm in winter is less necessary. Perhaps Ewing should time his next visit for February?

The premier of the Turks and Caicos says he’s “not closing the door completely” on the idea of his island nation becoming Canada’s 11th province, but says such a move would only happen if it is the will of his country’s residents.

Premier Rufus Ewing was on Parliament Hill Monday to meet Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other MPs to discuss economic development and trade issues, as well as, of course, tourism.

But Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird was quick to dispel the possibility of the island nation becoming a part of Canada.

“The premier who’s here isn’t asking to become the 11th province and we’re not in the business of annexing islands in the Caribbean to be part of Canada,” he said. “So that’s not something that we’re exploring. We’re not looking at any sort of formal association with the islands.”

Ewing was scheduled to travel to Toronto later Monday to open a new tourism office in the city.

During a lively press conference on Parliament Hill Monday afternoon, Ewing was coy when answering repeated questions about whether his country could one day be Canada’s first province in the Caribbean.

“Our first step toward any kind of relationship should be one whereby we can discuss and discover areas of mutual interest between both countries that both countries’ Parliaments and people are satisfied with, watch that relationship grow and nurture as we go through a period of courtship, and see where it takes us,” Ewing said.

“I cannot state beyond that right now.”