The goal of this petition is to show the government of Canada that the idea of revisiting and reexamining the possibility of a merger between our country and Turks & Caicos is of great interest to a wide variety of Canadian citizens.

The benefits for both Canada and the Turks & Caicos islands are significant. For Canada, we would acquire a retirement destination for Canadians which is not on U.S. soil, increase our export sales (even in 1988 the islands imported $27 million worth of goods, mostly from the U.S.), create a basecamp and shipping node for Canadian business in the Caribbean, establish a source for marine imports, provide tropical locations for film and television productions, and recoup some of the millions of dollars vacationing Canadians lose every year in buying American currency. In short, we could start putting less money into American pockets, and more into our own.

For the Turks & Caicos, a formal relationship with Canada would bring expanded opportunities for education and a higher standard of living, increased exports as Canada buys up huge quantities of conch and lobster, development of light manufacturing and assembly industries (which the local economy currently lacks), direct air travel to the rest of Canada, and more jobs and business opportunities for people of all backgrounds.

Please, reconsider a more formal relationship between Canada and the colony of Turks & Caicos. Canada is the world leader is cultural diversity. Help make us truly the best of all possible worlds.