Alberta’s Premier Danielle Smith found herself at the center of U.S. political conversations last week when Fox News personality Jesse Watters suggested Alberta could become “America’s 51st state” following Donald Trump’s presidential victory. The segment has reignited discussions about Alberta sovereignty and western alienation that have long simmered beneath the surface of Canadian politics.
During his prime-time broadcast, Watters claimed Alberta was “thinking about leaving Canada” and joining the United States – a dramatic oversimplification that nonetheless sparked fresh debate across the province. Premier Smith, while not directly endorsing separation, has maintained warm relations with Trump’s inner circle and repeatedly criticized the federal government under Justin Trudeau.
“We’ve always had strong ties with our American neighbors, particularly when it comes to energy,” Smith told reporters at a Calgary Chamber of Commerce event yesterday. “But Albertans are proud Canadians who want a fair deal within confederation, not separation.”
The Premier’s response fails to acknowledge how her own rhetoric has fueled sovereignty sentiments. Her government passed the controversial Alberta Sovereignty Act in 2022, creating mechanisms for the province to resist federal laws deemed harmful to Alberta’s interests.
Political scientist Dr. Lisa Young from the University of Calgary sees the Fox News segment as part of a concerning pattern. “American conservative media has discovered Alberta’s grievances and is weaponizing them for their own narrative about progressive governance,” Young explained. “The danger is when legitimate provincial concerns become entangled with imported culture war politics.”
This isn’t the first time Alberta-U.S. relations have raised eyebrows. Smith’s government established an Alberta office in Washington earlier this year, and she personally congratulated Trump on his election victory before Prime Minister Trudeau issued his official statement.
The latest polling from Angus Reid shows only 16 percent of Albertans actively support separation – a vocal minority rather than mainstream opinion. However, a much larger segment, nearly 62 percent, express frustration with federal policies on energy, carbon pricing, and resource development.
Former Premier Rachel Notley criticized the current administration’s approach. “By playing footsie with separatist rhetoric, Premier Smith undermines Alberta’s negotiating position rather than strengthening it,” Notley said during a recent NDP caucus meeting. “We need a government focused on healthcare and affordability, not constitutional showdowns.”
Energy markets remain the central flashpoint in these tensions. Trump’s proposed policies favoring fossil fuel development contrast sharply with Ottawa’s emissions reduction targets. Smith’s government recently launched a constitutional challenge against federal clean electricity regulations, arguing they intrude on provincial jurisdiction.
“What we’re seeing is strategic positioning,” says Mount Royal University political analyst Duane Bratt. “Smith is aligning herself with a Trump administration that shares her energy vision, creating leverage against federal policies she opposes.”
The Fox News segment also highlighted cultural differences, suggesting Alberta’s “cowboy culture” aligned more with American values than Canadian ones. This characterization ignores the province’s diversity and complex political landscape. Edmonton consistently elects progressive representatives, while rural communities lean conservative.
For many Albertans like Calgary small business owner Jennifer MacLean, the separation talk is a distraction. “I’m exhausted by this constant confrontation. We need solutions on healthcare staffing shortages and inflation, not constitutional fantasies,” MacLean told me at her downtown shop.
The Alberta government’s $8 million “Tell the Feds” advertising campaign attacking federal policies has further stoked tensions. Critics argue these funds could better serve addressing local challenges like the housing crisis or emergency room wait times.
Indigenous leaders have also pushed back against separation rhetoric. Treaty 8 Grand Chief Arthur Noskey emphasized that “Treaty relationships exist with the Crown, not provincial governments. Separation talk disregards Indigenous rights and treaties that predate both Alberta and Canada.”
The political dynamics extend beyond Alberta’s borders. Saskatchewan Premier
