They’re in a US state of mind.
Some Canadians are thrilled with President Trump’s pledge to make the Great White North the 51st state in the union — and are eager to pledge their allegiance.
“We want to be the 51st star on the flag,” declared Albertan Peter Downing, who was “over the moon” when Trump first suggested the move in a November meeting with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago.
“He’s the man and we want to be a part of that,” Downing said of the US President. “We’re totally pumped about this.”
Shawn Harvey of Alberta said Canada didn’t have his province’s best interests at heart.
“I’m not a proud Canadian, I’m a proud Albertan,” said Harvey, 52 who lost three back-to-back jobs as a truck driver in the oil and gas industry over the past 10 years.
“I feel more connected to the US,” he said.
Like Harvey, many “51st Staters” live in Canada’s western provinces – Alberta and Saskatchewan – the country’s two largest oil producers.
Alberta has long been nicknamed the ‘Texas of Canada’ because it’s oil rich and conservative. Under Trudeau, whose policies were widely viewed there as anti-oil and gas, the Alberta separatist movement — or ‘Wexit’ — gained steam.
Since Trump’s comments, billboards have sprung up across the province urging Alberta’s Premier Danielle Smith, “Let’s join the USA.”
Mobile ad campaigns have launched in Washington, DC, declaring, “Dear President Trump, we are ready to be the 51st state,” and new merchandise – including baseball caps with the US flag slapped over a map of Alberta — are letting these Canadians show their true colors.
Dennis Modry, a retired surgeon who chairs the provincial sovereignty advocacy group Alberta Prosperity Society, is helping arrange a trek to Washington, DC, next month to discuss the union with US officials.
“Where there would be a possibility for Trump to achieve his objective of Canada as a 51st state is in Alberta,” Modry said.
Anti-Canada Canucks are also fed up with a federal policy they say is out of communist China called “equalization payments,” whereby richer provinces, such as Alberta, send money to the federal government to be redistributed to poorer provinces. Joining the US would mean lower taxes.
“It’s time for us to shine,” said Harvey.
For Alberta to secede from Canada or join the US, the province would have to hold referendum and obtain a majority in favor of the move.
Last week, Department of Government Efficiency boss and Canadian citizen Elon Musk — whose mom is from Saskatchewan — replied “100%” on X to a post saying it was a “decent idea” should Alberta become the 51st state.”
“Canada is like an abusive spouse – they just keep beating Alberta down,” Harvey said. “The rest of the country calls us traitors because we want a better future.”
