VAUXHALL, Alberta—In much of Canada, President Trump’s provocations like making the country a 51st state are deeply unpopular. In this conservative, oil-rich province, Trump presents an opportunity.
Alberta is poised to hold a referendum on seceding from Canada later this year, and supporters of independence credit Trump’s disruptive energy for adding fuel to their movement. Alberta secessionists view Trump as a powerful ally in their quest to rattle Canada’s liberal politics and supercharge oil production—and no obstacle to their independence, even if statehood is unlikely.
Albertan independence is a remote but chilling prospect for Canada. The western province is a resources powerhouse that holds most of Canada’s crude oil. Only Saudi Arabia and Venezuela have bigger reserves of crude.
