From: jameskerlindsay
While primary international attention has often focused on the French-speaking province of Quebec [00:00:03], the western Canadian province of Alberta has also seen a rise in separatist sentiment [00:00:20]. A less prominent, but notable, aspect of this sentiment is the idea of Alberta potentially leaving Canada to become a U.S. state [00:10:38].
Drivers of Sentiment
The idea of Alberta becoming the 51st U.S. state is influenced by several factors:
- Political, Ideological, and Cultural Similarities Alberta shares many political, ideological, and cultural similarities with the neighboring U.S. states of Montana and Idaho [00:10:32].
- Economic Reliance on Oil and Gas Alberta’s economy is heavily dominated by oil and gas exploration [00:01:56]. The support for fossil fuels shown by U.S. President Donald Trump has been widely welcomed in the province [00:11:37].
- Muted Response to U.S. Policies While Trump’s policies towards Canada, including tariffs and threats of annexation, have angered most of the country, the response from Alberta has been more muted [00:11:49]. Alberta’s Premier, Danielle Smith, who has been accused of flirting with the pro-independence movement, refused to endorse a joint federal-provincial response to U.S. import taxes [00:12:00].
Public Opinion
Polling data from 2020 and 2021 indicated that as many as 20% of Albertans favored leaving Canada to become the 51st U.S. state [00:10:38].
Likelihood of Annexation
Despite some support, the prospect of Alberta’s annexation by the United States is considered unlikely [00:13:55]. It remains a fringe viewpoint [00:14:05]. Support for this option may also decline entirely if the negative effects of Trump’s economic policies become apparent [00:14:13].
Instead, the greater threat to Canada’s unity lies in the possibility of other Canadian provinces following if Alberta were to break away, rather than U.S. annexation [00:14:22].