The potential political association of the Turks and Caicos Islands along with Canada is a recurring topic perennially discussed at times in various cross sections of society of both nations,[1] and usually emerging in discourse during northern hemispheric winter.

Furthermore, significant socioeconomic, diplomatic, constitutional, and political hurdles would need to be overcome to achieve incorporation of the islands, which has raised questions on its feasibility.

[11] In the U.K's moves towards providing responsible self-governance in the West Indies in compliance with the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories, the Turks and Caicos operated as a dependency of Jamaica since 1873 with the aim of consolidating governance in the region.

The idea was raised at the Imperial Conference of that year, only to be shot down by UK Prime Minister David Lloyd George, a known supporter of strong shipping ports for his home country.

[8] Other British possessions in the Caribbean declared independence from the United Kingdom throughout the mid-20th century, including Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago in 1962, Barbados in 1966, and, importantly for the neighbouring Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas in 1973.

[citation needed] In response to this, on 15 March 1973, the islands' territorial council prepared a petition to the Canadian government seeking a closer form of association[13] and asking Britain's permission to do so.

The council sought to expand its economic integration with its large North American neighbour in the midst of a faltering domestic economy at the time.

[18][19] The PNP, still facing sluggish economic growth and high unemployment within the islands, instead pushed for domestic reforms and closer relations with its neighbours.

On 10 March 1987, Liberal Senator and former Cabinet Minister Hazen Argue tabled a motion calling for both nations to explore "the desirability and advantages of the Turks and Caicos Islands becoming a part of Canada".

During debate in the Canadian Senate, Argue identified advantages that the Turks and Caicos legislature saw in association with Canada:[13] The motion also laid out concrete steps that the nations might need to take to move towards integration; the list has since been cited as the steps that both nations would need to take if the process were to be initiated in the future: (1) adoption of a common currency; (2) designation of Canada's Governor General as the King's representative for the islands (thus replacing the current Governor); (3) a closer economic association between the two countries; (4) any change in procedures to our mutual advantage, that would assist the entry of Canadians to the Islands, and of Islanders to Canada; and

The act removed barriers for islanders to immigrate and work in the UK, and only served to further lower discussion in mainstream politics of unification with Canada.

The Premier of the islands, Michael Misick, resigned in the wake of the suspension and was viewed as a central component to dispensing political favours to other connected elites.

Critics contend that issues such as those with self-government, the second time it has occurred in the history of the territory, would make the Turks and Caicos an unsuitable candidate for inclusion in Canada's strong democratic values.

[8] It is likely that incorporation of the less affluent Turks and Caicos would result in the islands siphoning funds from equalization payments from other less wealthy provinces, reducing their chances of supporting this method.

Despite the United Kingdom's oversight of the territory's foreign affairs, the Turks and Caicos Islands participate in the Caribbean Community as an associate member.