Alberta Should Leave Canada and Join the United States as a Territory and Then State
Source: Arjun Singh. "Instead of Making Canada The 51st State, Just Take Alberta." October 19, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that Alberta is being drained and ignored by Canada's federal government, which is pursuing policies hostile to its oil industry. If Alberta votes to leave, the U.S. should welcome it in, since Albertans would gain real political power and the U.S. would gain energy, land, and two likely Republican senators. He says this is a better idea than trying to take over all of Canada.
Conclusion
If Alberta votes to leave Canada, the United States should welcome it and pursue its admission as a territory with a path to statehood, rather than pursuing annexation of all of Canada.
Premises
- Alberta is economically exploited within Canada: it generates a disproportionate share of GDP and oil revenue, while equalization transfers send its wealth to Liberal-voting provinces that then block its pipelines and support carbon taxes.
- Federal net-zero policy amounts to a deliberate 'managed decline' of Alberta's oil economy, which threatens its future within Canada.
- Alberta is politically powerless in Canada: it votes conservative but is outvoted by Ontario and Quebec, is underrepresented relative to Quebec, and has a toothless Senate that cannot protect regional interests.
- As a U.S. state, Alberta would gain two elected senators and a federal system that respects member sovereignty, along with American refining capacity and capital markets.
- Alberta would benefit the U.S. strategically and politically by adding energy resources to counter Russia and Iran, two likely conservative senators, and valuable resource-rich land.
- Alberta's conservative, individualist culture is closer to the American heartland than to Canada's increasingly statist and progressive trajectory.
- Legal hurdles and statehood-precedent objections (D.C., Puerto Rico) are surmountable because sovereignty is asserted by the people and land is a uniquely valuable commodity.
Assumptions
- A non-binding referendum reflects a genuine, durable majority desire among Albertans to leave Canada, and specifically to join the U.S. rather than become independent.
- Alberta's grievances are best resolved by joining the U.S. rather than through reform within Canada or independence.
- The U.S. government and public would accept Alberta, and Canada would permit secession.
- Indigenous treaty obligations and economic integration do not constitute serious obstacles.
- Alberta's interests (e.g., oil expansion) would be protected under U.S. federalism and politics, including U.S. environmental regulation.
- Adding two Republican senators is a legitimate benefit and would not provoke destabilizing retaliation, such as Democratic statehood pushes.
- Net-zero policies necessarily imply the decline of Alberta's oil industry.