The group Alberta 51 has called for the province to leave Canada and become the 51st American state, claiming the Canadian government will “never correct the parliamentary imbalance that allows Central Canada to control the lives and enterprise of Albertans.” .“We realize that because Ottawa is systematically attempting to destroy our enterprise, our chief industry and our economic wellbeing, we cannot remain in Canada,” said Alberta 51 in a Thursday press release. .Alberta 51 said the province has three choices regarding its future. .The first choice is stay in Canada, where “our resources and wealth will be gutted by an ever aging and poorer Central/Easter Canada.” It said the more than $600 billion Ottawa has taken will be minor compared to the future. .Alberta 51 said the second option is to become a sovereign country. It added becoming a sovereign country would lead to legal battles with Canada, Alberta becoming landlocked, and the country having to secure its own trade deals. .The third option is to become a state, which this advocacy group wishes to pursue. .It said Alberta should become an American state because 87% of the province’s exports go to the United States. Statehood would ensure this trade could continue without potential tariffs or border closures. .Alberta 51 said turning into a state would lead to fair representation in government, since the United States has three distinct, equal branches. There would be lower taxes, no carbon tax, and maybe no state income tax. .Alberta would be “a valuable acquisition for America,” said the group. This province has the third largest oil reserves in the world, well-educated, hardworking young people, and two large cities. .The group plans to promote its message through social media, advertising, and contacting provincial politicians. It has started to collect thousands of signatures on a private member’s petition, calling for a referendum on Alberta statehood. .“The goal is to have the government conduct a statehood referendum by the end of 2023,” it said. .Alberta's United Conservative Party (UCP) leadership candidate Bill Rock said on June 24 he would hold a province-wide referendum on Alberta becoming its own country in 2025 if elected premier. .READ MORE: UCP leadership candidate Rock would hold referendum on Alberta independence.Rock said he would not hold the separation referendum if elected right away because the population must first be educated to ensure the majority say yes. .“First of all, you have to get the people out to vote, which means you have to convince them that this is very, very important,” he said.
