Rufus Ewing鈥檚 mistake was all about poor timing. The premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands went to Ottawa this week to talk trade and to reopen the long-standing question of whether the Caribbean nation could join Canada.
On the idea of union, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said no. Clearly, the two men have already forgotten the brutally harsh winter that all of Canada east of the Rockies endured this year.
If Ewing had gone to Ottawa on Jan. 6, instead of May 26, he might have got a warmer response. Ottawans, including politicians, would have been much more open to the thought of the Turks and Caicos鈥� 40 sun-drenched islands when Ottawa鈥檚 temperature plunged from 1 degree to -23 in one day.
For almost 100 years, 91原创s and the 35,000 people of the largely uninhabited little islands have toyed with the notion of some kind of union. 91原创 leaders insist we鈥檙e not the kind of people who annex other countries.
But surely if the other country wants to be annexed, it wouldn鈥檛 stain our reputation as the Mr. Rogers of nations.
Here in Victoria, some might be concerned about losing our status as Canada鈥檚 island paradise, but we offer visitors a different experience, catering to those who don鈥檛 mind if their sunscreen gets streaked by the occasional rain shower.
All is not lost, however. Politicians can change their minds, and Ewing wants to keep the door open for future discussions. We encourage him to come back soon. Perhaps in late December.
