Jordon Kosikowie, a 35-year-old oil and gas worker from the Edmonton area, is among those intrigued by the possibility.
Facing tough times in his industry, he’s open to anything that could boost his finances.
“If it means more money for me, why not talk about it?” he asks.
Kosikowie even runs a Facebook group pushing for Alberta’s potential statehood, a community that’s ballooned to 1,000 members since launching just months ago.
This idea isn’t mainstream—yet it’s not as fringe as you might think.
Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, notes that Kosikowie is part of a small but vocal minority.
A January survey by her institute of 1,653 Canadian adults found that 90% would reject Canada joining the U.S. in a referendum.
“That 90% is a big deal,” Kurl says.
“It cuts across politics, regions, ages, and genders—Canadians rarely agree on anything this much.”
Still, the flip side reveals 10% who’d say yes to statehood, a figure echoed by a March Leger poll showing 9% nationwide support, peaking at 15% in Alberta.
These online polls, while not perfectly scientific, hint at a trend.
Kurl describes the pro-U.S. crowd as mostly conservative men from Alberta and Saskatchewan—think “diet MAGA” types who lean toward fringe politics and admire Trump’s bold style.
“They’re on the edges of society,” she says, “but they’re loud.”
Kosikowie sees Alberta’s conservative bent and entrepreneurial spirit as a natural fit for the U.S.
He also points to a growing sense of alienation from the rest of Canada.
Alberta’s oil-rich economy often feels stifled by federal policies, a grievance championed by Premier Danielle Smith, who frequently clashes with Ottawa.
“I’m for statehood, but mostly I’m for the discussion,” Kosikowie says.
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A Bigger Vision: Canada as the 51st State
While Kosikowie focuses on Alberta, Dave Bjorkman dreams bigger.
The 47-year-old Edmontonian founded the Party of the Canadian Constitutionalists and a Facebook group, “Canada the 51st State,” which has swelled to 6,600 members since Trump’s annexation remarks earlier this year.
Bjorkman believes uniting Canada and the U.S. could unlock prosperity for both.
“Canadians don’t work together to build wealth,” he laments.
“We don’t even like each other.”
He envisions mutual benefits: Canada gaining from U.S. trade power, and the U.S. adopting lessons from Canada’s health care system.
It’s a rosy picture—but is it realistic?
Why Some Canadians Are Listening
Economic frustration fuels this movement, says Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto.
“People feel ignored by their government,” he explains.
“They see it catering to big cities while leaving places like Alberta behind.”
The U.S., with its booming economy, looks like a lifeline.
But Wiseman warns that merging two nations would be a logistical nightmare, likely taking a decade to sort out currencies, laws, and systems.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, meanwhile, has slammed Trump’s annexation threats as “disrespectful” and unhelpful to trade talks.
Yet Kosikowie sees a silver lining: “Trump’s words got people thinking.
We’re allowed to question things.”
Alberta’s Unique Case
Alberta’s oil-driven economy sets it apart.
Years of federal regulations and pipeline delays have left workers like Kosikowie desperate for solutions.
His Facebook group reflects a grassroots push for change, blending pragmatism with a dash of rebellion.
At 15% support in the Leger poll, Alberta leads Canada in openness to statehood—a stat that’s modest but notable.
The Numbers Tell a Story
The Angus Reid survey’s 90% rejection rate is striking, but that 10% yes vote—roughly one in ten Canadians—can’t be ignored.
In Alberta, it’s closer to one in six.
The Leger poll’s 9% national figure aligns closely, with Alberta’s 15% standing out.
These aren’t random outliers; they signal a discontented minority ready to rethink borders.
Who’s Driving the Debate?
Kurl’s “diet MAGA” label paints a vivid picture: conservative, rural, often male, and skeptical of Ottawa’s liberal leanings.
Kosikowie fits the mold—pragmatic, pro-business, and fed up.
Bjorkman, though, takes it further, imagining a grand merger rooted in frustration with Canada’s internal divides.
The Trump Factor
Trump’s offhand annexation comments earlier this year lit a match.
For some, it was a joke; for others, a spark.
Bjorkman’s group surged in membership, and Kosikowie credits the former president with kickstarting a conversation.
Carney may want it squashed, but the idea’s out there now, buzzing on social media and beyond.
Could It Actually Happen?
Legally, it’s a long shot.
Canada’s Constitution makes secession tricky, requiring federal and provincial approval.
The U.S. would need Congress to sign off too—a political hurdle given partisan gridlock.
Economically, aligning taxes, trade, and health care would be chaotic.
Wiseman’s decade-long timeline might be optimistic.
Yet the “what if” persists.
Alberta’s resource wealth could appeal to the U.S., while its residents eye America’s lighter regulations.
Bjorkman’s vision of shared prosperity tantalizes, even if it’s more dream than blueprint.
Voices of the Movement
Kosikowie keeps it practical: “I just want options that help me and my family.”
Bjorkman’s idealism shines through: “Together, we’d be unstoppable.”
Both tap into a deeper unrest—Alberta’s sense of being Canada’s overlooked engine, and Canada’s broader struggle to unify its diverse regions.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about Alberta or Canada. It’s about identity, economics, and power in a shifting world.
The U.S. looms large as a symbol of opportunity, even as its own challenges—debt, division—go unmentioned by advocates.
Canada’s stability, meanwhile, feels stagnant to those on the margins.
What’s Next?
For now, it’s talk—not action.
Kosikowie’s group grows steadily, Bjorkman’s vision inspires debate, and polls keep hinting at a restless minority.
Trump’s next move could fan the flames—or fizzle out.
Either way, the question lingers: Could Alberta, or even Canada, ever join the U.S.?
The odds say no, but the conversation says maybe.
Alberta’s Economic Woes
Alberta’s story is oil. It powers the province, employing thousands like Kosikowie.
But recent years have been brutal—federal red tape, canceled pipelines, and global shifts have squeezed jobs and wages.
Kosikowie’s frustration is palpable: “If the U.S. means more cash, I’m listening.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith echoes this, slamming Ottawa for choking the industry.
For many here, the U.S. looks like a land of fewer rules and bigger paychecks.
The Polls: A Divided Nation
Numbers don’t lie.
The Angus Reid Institute’s January 2025 survey of 1,653 Canadians found 90% would say no to U.S. statehood.
That’s a landslide. But 10% said yes—higher in Alberta at 15%, per a Leger poll in March.
These aren’t exact sciences (online surveys lack a margin of error), but they show a split.
Shachi Kurl calls the 90% a rare Canadian consensus.
Yet that 10%—millions of people—keeps the idea alive.
Kurl pegs the pro-U.S. crowd as conservative, male, and Western—Alberta and Saskatchewan strongholds.
They’re “diet MAGA,” she says, nodding to Trump’s influence. Kosikowie fits: practical, conservative, and tired of feeling sidelined.
Bjorkman’s broader vision appeals to those who see Canada as fractured, unable to harness its potential.
Trump’s Role
Donald Trump’s annexation quips earlier this year weren’t serious—probably.
But they struck a chord. Bjorkman’s group exploded in size, and Kosikowie says it “got us thinking.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s March 25, 2025, rebuke—“disrespectful, unhelpful”—aimed to shut it down.
Instead, it fueled the fire. Social media buzzed, and Google searches for “Alberta 51st state” spiked.
Why Alberta?
Alberta’s unique.
Its oil wealth rivals Texas, but it’s tethered to a Canada that leans left and urban.
Smith’s battles with Ottawa—over carbon taxes, energy policy—amplify a sense of “us vs. them.”
Kosikowie sees statehood as a way to align with a kindred spirit: conservative, business-friendly America.
Bjorkman’s Grand Plan
Bjorkman’s Party of the Canadian Constitutionalists isn’t joking.
He wants Canada—all of it—in the U.S. “We’d thrive together,” he insists.
Trade benefits, health care swaps, a unified North America.
It’s ambitious, even utopian.
Critics call it naive, but 6,600 Facebook fans suggest he’s not alone.
Economic Dreams vs. Reality
Nelson Wiseman breaks it down: “People see the U.S. as richer, freer.”
Canada’s GDP per capita lags behind America’s, and Alberta’s oil workers envy U.S. deregulation.
But a merger? “A decade, minimum,” Wiseman says.
Currency clashes, trade laws, health care gaps—it’s a puzzle with no easy fit.
The Legal Maze
Canada’s Constitution doesn’t make secession simple.
Alberta would need provincial and federal nods—unlikely with 90% opposed nationally.
The U.S. Congress, split as ever, would have to agree too. It’s a fantasy unless attitudes shift big-time.
Social Media’s Role
Facebook groups are this movement’s heartbeat.
Kosikowie’s 1,000 members swap ideas daily. Bjorkman’s 6,600 amplify the hype.
Posts mix memes, manifestos, and Trump clips, driving engagement.
The Canadian Identity Crisis
Canada prides itself on unity—hockey, health care, politeness.
But Alberta’s rift with Ottawa, and Bjorkman’s claim that “we don’t love each other,” hint at cracks.
The 51st state idea is a symptom of deeper woes: regional divides, economic stagnation, a search for something better.
Pros and Cons
Pros for Alberta:
Access to U.S. markets
Lighter regulations
Conservative alignment
Cons:
Loss of sovereignty
Health care upheaval
Decade-long chaos
For Canada:
Trade boosts (maybe)
But identity erased?
Voices on the Ground
Kosikowie: “I just want prosperity.” Bjorkman: “Unity is strength.” T
heir words resonate with the disaffected—those who feel Canada’s let them down.
What’s Next for the Movement?
It’s early days. Kosikowie wants dialogue.
Bjorkman wants revolution. Polls suggest a ceiling—15% in Alberta isn’t a majority.
But Trump’s next tweet, or Smith’s next clash with Carney, could shift the tide.
A Thought Experiment Worth Watching
Alberta as the 51st state—or Canada entire—won’t happen tomorrow.
Too many laws, too much opposition.
Yet the idea’s sticking around, fueled by economic pain and bold voices.
Kosikowie and Bjorkman aren’t outliers; they’re canaries in a coal mine.
Will this fade, or flare up?
Stay tuned with CTC News.
