Notion of Canada annexing Turks and Caicos dates back to Borden’s era

OTTAWA – A chronology of key events in the history of the Turks and Caicos islands:

Circa 750: The first inhabitants reach the islands.

1492: Christopher Columbus lands on Grand Turk island.

1668: A salt industry is established by Bermudians.

1706: Islands are seized from Bermuda by the French and the Spanish.

1710: British formally place the islands under the jurisdiction of the Bahamas.

1873: The islands become a separate colony.

1874: After a devastating hurricane, the islands are annexed to Jamaica for relief efforts.

1917: Canadian Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden explores the idea of annexing the islands. Britain says no.

1962: Astronaut John Glenn splashes down off the islands after the first American orbital flight. He is taken to Grand Turk after his landing.

1974: Canadian New Democrat Max Saltzman introduces a private member’s bill to annex the islands. It failed.

2004: The Nova Scotia legislature passes a motion calling for negotiations to make the islands a part of Nova Scotia.

2014: Conservative MP Peter Goldring persists in his efforts to link Canada and the islands.