In this episode, I discuss the situation in the oil-rich province of Alberta, and the potential creation of a new country on one of their northern borders. I also discuss the benefits of recognizing Alberta's right to self-determination.
00:01:55.560How is it helpful, though, Premier, with respect to open the door to, for example, a citizen-led referendum on separation if your overall objective is to engage in more fruitful negotiations with the federal government?
00:02:09.120And if, in fact, that referendum results in a vote to separate, would you?
00:02:17.400Unless they're willing to open their market, they're going to pay a tariff.
00:02:20.540All of Alberta's energy resources, oil, gas, bitumen, all of our agricultural products are exempt from tariffs.
00:02:29.000And that's what we've got to be working towards for every single product.
00:02:32.660Look, if you've been paying attention to what's happening in Canada, more specifically in Alberta, you'll probably start to notice a trend.
00:02:40.720While the rest of the country has become mostly hostile and bitter towards the United States during these trade negotiations,
00:02:47.420the province of Alberta has remained mostly diplomatic, cooperative, and some would say even friendlier towards the Americans.
00:02:55.760Furthermore, Premier Danielle Smith has made multiple statements indicating a closer integration of the Alberta economy with its southern counterparts in Montana, North Dakota, and others.
00:03:07.320In recent declarations, she's alluded to energy development agreements and other deals that are being worked on with members of the cabinet from the Trump administration.
00:03:18.060More specifically, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum.
00:03:22.540She has also been warning the Canadian federal government about the unprecedented levels of support for the independence movement,
00:03:29.680and that she fears that Canadian unity will fall apart once Albertans realize that it is much easier to trade with Americans than it is with the rest of Canada.
00:03:40.020It seems Alberta continues to be at odds with the rest of the country while integrating more and more into the American economy.
00:03:47.560What I expect the Americans will do is that they will indicate at some point here that they will recognize Alberta's right to self-determination,
00:03:59.160that the Americans, whether it's the State Department or the President or someone, will say,
00:04:03.720we know there's this situation going on in Canada and we respect the right of Albertans to choose their destiny and have self-determination.
00:04:11.660The American government's done this in other instances where there's an upheaval in some countries around the world.
00:04:17.700And then I think the next thing they might do is say, well, if the referendum is in favor of separation,
00:04:23.840international states can give recognition, even where the home country doesn't agree.
00:04:30.960So a number of countries, including Canada, have recognized Taiwan, even though, according to the Chinese constitution, Taiwan is part of China, right?
00:04:39.240So one of the options the Americans will have is to give international recognition to Alberta.
00:04:45.540Alberta will have that advantage going into the negotiation, that if everybody wants to play silly bugger and not engage in good faith negotiations,
00:04:55.320you've got Trump already signaling, perhaps, that he will give international recognition.
00:05:00.600As a vote on Alberta independence becomes imminent in 2026, international attention is only going to intensify.
00:05:08.220This is a story that's already getting a lot of attention from America and Europe, even though it's still early days, relatively speaking.
00:05:17.180International recognition is one of the most crucial and important steps in bringing legitimacy to a new independent nation.
00:05:25.240Having it creates credibility for the claim to sovereignty of the new state.
00:05:30.540Receiving recognition from any established state would be positive.
00:05:34.960But the United States, the most powerful nation on earth, acknowledging Alberta's independence, would be the ultimate game changer.
00:05:44.240As one of the leaders of the Alberta Prosperity Project declared, Alberta would become an independent nation on that very day.
00:05:52.580And of course, Alberta, now moving towards separation from Canada.
00:05:58.160Thousands of Albertans have taken to the streets, holding rallies, signing petitions to separate from Canada.
00:06:03.940First of all, do you think that that's going to happen?
00:06:05.860Will Alberta actually separate from Canada?
00:06:08.320And what do you make of these sort of like new censorship regime around social media and other things?
00:06:13.400I mean, it seems like a playbook right out of the United Kingdom.
00:06:16.480Well, to address your first question about Alberta, I would have said it was the impossible dream at one time.
00:06:24.800Because there are waves of separatist sentiment in Alberta, especially and throughout Western Canada, but very specifically in Alberta.
00:06:33.480And I can remember many instances of this.
00:06:36.480However, this is more than just a wave of sentiment.
00:06:40.100And I was speaking just the other day, and I interviewed Alberta Prosperity Project counsel, Jeff Rath, who informed me exactly how many names they have on this petition to get the ball rolling.
00:06:56.460And Canada is, I think, the only democracy that has codified its ability, the provincial ability to separate.
00:07:04.460All it takes is 50 plus one, and a province can separate.