The combination of NAFTA's domination in Canadian politics throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, as well as growing rights for Turks and Caicos Islanders as a dependency of the United Kingdom, are seen as leading to a decline in interest in Canada's association with the islands.

The idea of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) joining Canada as an 11th province or territory has been discussed for decades, but it has never moved past the proposal stage due to significant political, economic, and social hurdles. Formally, Canada has never "rejected" an official request because the process has largely been driven by informal motions and backbench bills rather than a unified mandate. Critics in Canada have raised concerns about the high cost of extending Canadian social services and healthcare to the islands, as well as the potential for importing organized crime or political corruption. Additionally, Canada’s commitment to anti-expansionist, peacekeeping values makes the "annexation" of a Caribbean territory diplomatically sensitive. In 2002, the UK granted full British citizenship to TCI residents, which largely satisfied their desire for stronger sovereign ties and reduced the local momentum for joining Canada. While some Canadians still dream of a "tropical province," the logistical nightmare of constitutional change means it remains a political non-starter.