The loudest voices pushing for Alberta to “leave Canada” are not really talking about independence. They’re talking about absorption. And it’s time we paid attention.
A growing number of separatists are not campaigning for Alberta to stand on its own. They want Alberta to become part of the United States. As in, the 51st state. This is not a conspiracy theory—it’s in their own words.
The modern separatist movement in Alberta has shifted away from the dream of self-rule. Their new goal is to leave Canada and become part of the U.S. But joining the United States would mean losing core aspects of what makes Alberta—and Canada—special. It’s not independence. It’s surrender.
"Those are our goals."
That’s what Jeffrey Rath, a lawyer and spokesperson for a separatist group, told the American TV show Fox and Friends. He said their team is meeting with representatives to explore “the benefits of either Alberta becoming ... U.S. territory, or pursuing full statehood. Those are our goals.”
This is no longer about frustration with Ottawa. It’s about choosing Washington instead.
And if that ever happens, everything changes. Here are six things Albertans would lose:
1. Say Goodbye to Public Healthcare
Right now, healthcare in Alberta is universal. You show your Alberta Health Card and get treated. In the U.S., it’s not that simple—or affordable. Americans pay insurance premiums, deductibles, and often face bankruptcy from medical bills. In fact, two-thirds of all U.S. bankruptcies are tied to healthcare costs.
If Alberta became a U.S. state, there would be no more Canada Health Act. No guaranteed coverage. Just a patchwork of private insurance and expensive care. Break your arm? Better have a credit card.
2. Gun Violence Would Rise
Canada has strong gun laws. The U.S. does not. America has more guns than people and more gun deaths than any other developed country. Mass shootings have become part of everyday life. In 2023 alone, there were more than 650 mass shootings in the U.S.
Joining the U.S. would make Alberta subject to American gun culture. Think that would never affect us? Every American state has seen gun deaths increase over the past decade. Alberta would be no different.
3. No More Canadian Rights and Freedoms
Canada’s Charter protects freedom of expression, mobility, equality, and healthcare access. The U.S. Constitution, while historic, offers different protections—and in some cases, fewer.
Reproductive rights are under attack across many U.S. states. Voting access varies wildly. Union protections are weaker. Hate speech laws are virtually non-existent. You’d be trading the Charter for a legal system where your rights depend on which party is in power and which court is in charge.
4. You Lose Your Pension, Your Passport, and the Dollar
With separation comes paperwork—and problems. CPP? Gone. You’ll either have to fight for a U.S. Social Security number or watch years of Canadian pension contributions disappear in legal limbo.
Your Canadian passport would be invalid. You’d be applying for a green card just to visit your relatives. Your money? No more Canadian dollar. You’re using U.S. currency and whatever interest rate the Fed sets.
There is no smooth “economic union” here. The U.S. has never done that. It either absorbs you—or ignores you.
5. You Don’t Gain Power—You Lose It
In Canada, Alberta is one of ten provinces. It holds about 10% of the national population and has real influence in national decisions.
In the U.S.? Alberta becomes 1 of 51. Its population would represent just over 1% of the total. Think Washington is going to listen more closely than Ottawa? Think again.
Right now, Alberta sends MPs to Ottawa who sit at the Cabinet table. As the 51st state, Alberta would send two Senators and a few Representatives—drowned out by California, New York, Texas, and Florida. You’d go from being a heavyweight in Canada to an afterthought in the U.S.
6. You Lose Canada
This is the part separatists never talk about.
You lose the CBC. You lose the maple leaf. You lose Thanksgiving in October and Remembrance Day. You lose Canadian law, Canadian citizenship, Canadian courts. You lose the culture and history that shaped Alberta in the first place.
You’re not making Alberta stronger. You’re making it disappear.
What the “Value of Freedom” Document Would Lose Under U.S. Statehood
The separatist manifesto "Value of Freedom" document claims to outline a roadmap for Alberta’s independence, promising lower taxes, a new pension plan, and full control over policy decisions. However, while it promotes the idea of sovereignty, some of the loudest voices behind Alberta separatism are simultaneously advocating for U.S. statehood. That’s not independence—it’s annexation.
This shift in rhetoric raises serious questions. Is the public being sold a vision of freedom while the real objective is to become the 51st state? If so, this isn’t a plan for autonomy—it’s a bait and switch. And if statehood is the destination, much of what’s promised in the document simply falls apart. Here’s what would be at risk.
- Loss of Fiscal Autonomy
The entire fiscal strategy rests on Alberta retaining the $68–75 billion it currently sends to Ottawa, with plans to redirect that into local services, tax cuts, and debt repayment. As a U.S. state, those revenues would instead be redirected to Washington. Alberta would pay federal U.S. income taxes, social security, Medicare, and other federal levies. The $44–47 billion annual surplus vanishes overnight. - The Alberta Pension Plan Disappears
The document outlines a plan for a sovereign Alberta Pension Plan backed by $183.7 billion in assets and generating $23.4 billion annually. That money is designed to fund lower contribution rates and higher benefits for Albertans. Joining the U.S. means Alberta pensioners would instead rely on Social Security—a system with different rules, lower benefits, and no guarantee of recognizing past CPP contributions. - No Heritage Fund Growth
The plan forecasts building a $1.3–1.4 trillion sovereign wealth fund by 2045 through resource royalties and tax surpluses. That fund is designed to ensure long-term fiscal stability. As a U.S. state, Alberta would have no control over its royalties and no pathway to amass such a fund. Royalties would likely be subject to federal oversight and redistributed under federal rules. - Environmental and Indigenous Self-Governance Plans Are Moot
The independence plan proposes giving Indigenous nations permanent land rights, resource revenue sharing, and constitutional sovereignty within Alberta. These guarantees would be impossible under U.S. constitutional law, where tribal relations are federally governed. The same goes for Alberta’s land-use autonomy and carbon sequestration strategy. U.S. federal environmental regulations and property law would pre-empt much of this vision. - No Alberta Dollar, No Control of Monetary Policy
The document describes a phased rollout of an Alberta currency backed by gold, Bitcoin, and oil reserves. It also proposes establishing swap lines and credit arrangements with global banks. As a U.S. state, Alberta would be subject to the U.S. Federal Reserve and would lose the ability to control currency, interest rates, or monetary policy. - No More Constitutional Guarantees
Independence would allow Alberta to embed balanced-budget laws, tax limits, and citizen referenda into its new constitution. As a U.S. state, it would operate under the U.S. Constitution. Any state-specific reforms would be subject to federal preemption, court challenges, and congressional oversight.
Conclusion: This Isn’t About Sovereignty—It’s About Selling Out
Let’s stop pretending this is about independence. The people pushing Alberta to leave Canada are not building a nation—they’re dissolving one. Their plan isn’t sovereignty. It’s statehood. It’s about becoming Americans. That’s the endgame.
Alberta joining the United States would not deliver freedom or prosperity. It would mean surrendering hard-won rights, universal healthcare, public pensions, and national identity. At the same time, the alternative vision of independence laid out in the *Value of Freedom* document relies on unrealistic assumptions and speculative projections.
What’s most concerning is the disconnect between what’s being said and what’s actually being pursued. A movement that claims to fight for autonomy while quietly aiming for U.S. statehood is misleading the public. This isn’t about standing on Alberta’s own two feet. It’s about trading one federal government for another—and losing more control in the process.
Alberta isn’t broken. Canada isn’t broken. And if there’s a better deal to be made, it should be made from within—not sold off to the highest bidder.
Buyer beware.