The leaders of the so-called separatist movement seem careful to assure their supporters that leaving Canada does not mean being absorbed by the increasingly hostile and unhinged government south of the border.

The Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) website states, “The notion that we seek to become the 51st state is unfounded.”

Really? APP legal counsel Jeffrey Rath articulated exactly the opposite opinion less than a year ago in his Substack post entitled in all caps, “ALBERTA NEEDS TO PETITION FOR AMERICAN STATEHOOD”. Rath enthused about his alleged beloved home being devoured by America, “There is no doubt that President Donald Trump would happily announce Alberta Statehood as the GREATEST REAL ESTATE DEAL SINCE THE LOUISANA PURCHASE as the culmination of the AMERICAN 250th ANIVERSARY [sic] CELEBRATION.”

In March of last year, Rath was seen in a Facebook video bragging about assembling a delegation to travel to Washington to meet with the Trump administration to “apologize” for Canada’s errant conduct and for “Alberta petitioning for US statehood.”

In another social media post, Rath said “We need to be an independent country before we join the US. One step at a time. #AlbertaSovereignty”.

Despite extensive online evidence to the contrary, APP now maintains they are solely interested in Alberta independence. Why the flip-flop? Perhaps because it has become obvious that proposing a simple sell-out to the hostile and erratic Trump administration is unpalatable even to most hard-core Alberta separatists. Recent opinion polling showed that only 5 percent of Albertans support being absorbed by the U.S. Hence the bait and switch.

While allegedly rejecting joining the U.S., the APP website still itemizes their dangerous plans for immediate and deep integration with Donald Trump’s America, including:

• A proposed $500 billion line of credit backstopped by Alberta’s oil resources. Nothing says independence like owing Donald Trump half a trillion dollars.
• “Framing Alberta’s independence as aligned with U.S. national security and energy strategy…”
• Adopting the U.S. dollar as Alberta currency “in the interim”.
• Inviting U.S. election observers “to ensure the referendum’s integrity and fairness.”

Rath and other unelected extremists have apparently met with Trump administration officials in a sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF), typically used to exchange highly classified information. White House representatives did not deny meetings have taken place but assured the media no senior officials were involved.

Another fringe separatist group, the Republican Party of Alberta, publicly outed 18 members of Danielle Smith’s government who they say signed the independence petition. None have publicly denied doing so, though some seem snippy about being asked to divulge to voters whether they are in favour of breaking up the country.

Extremists voting to take Alberta into the arms of America – including elected officials – can take comfort in knowing that Alberta petition rules strictly protect their identities from being revealed to friends, family, employers or voters.   

Like the APP, the Republican Party of Alberta maintains with a straight face that they have no connection to the U.S., or their namesake political party now dismantling democracy in America. Whether they publicly admit their alliance with MAGA America or not, Alberta extremists reflect many of the ugly opinions now sadly endemic south of the border.

Take Back Alberta leader David Parker posted on X that “Donald Trump is the greatest President in American history. No one comes close to his aura. The new Golden Age is upon us!” In another post Parker said, “Trump is right, the absolute best thing for Canada would be to become the 51st state.”

Rath’s active social media accounts question long-established climate science. Rath has posted on X that “Caucasians are over represented in Canada’s MAID Program. They can’t get rid of us fast enough!” and that the Canadian government should cut off aid to a “corrupt” Ukraine. He was also subject of a recent disciplinary hearing by the Alberta Law Society for allegedly threatening government officials with murder charges and war crimes over COVID vaccine approvals.

This MAGA-aligned mindset is so at odds with core Canadian values that almost three quarters of Albertans who oppose separation say they plan move to another province if APP extremists succeed in breaking up the country. Quebec endured decades of economic doldrums after indulging their nationalist fever-dream.

The exodus of capital and citizens from an extremist hijacked Alberta would be catastrophic for whatever remains of the local economy, ironically including the prospect for another bitumen pipeline. Perhaps the company town cowards leading the so-called separatist movement are their own worst enemies.