Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Faces Questions Over U.S. Ties — But Did She Really Say She Wants Alberta to Become an American State?

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has once again found herself at the centre of a heated national debate over Alberta's relationship with Ottawa, the United States and the future of Canada.

But one important point needs to be made clear: there is no credible evidence that Smith recently said she wishes Alberta were a U.S. state. In fact, her recent public statements say the opposite.

On September 1, Smith was asked whether Americans could use Alberta's ongoing sovereignty and referendum debate to encourage the province to become part of the United States. Smith dismissed the idea, calling it a "non-starter for Albertans." She said Albertans would not want to trade what some perceive as an "overbearing Ottawa" for an "overbearing Washington."

Earlier this year, Smith also publicly stated that she supports Alberta remaining in Canada. During a May 21 provincial address, she said she would personally vote for Alberta to stay in Confederation and described herself as "fiercely loyal to both Alberta and Canada."

So why do some Canadians believe Smith is working against Canada?

Much of the criticism comes from her aggressive battles with the federal government and her willingness to speak directly with influential Americans during periods of serious Canada-U.S. tension. Smith has repeatedly accused Ottawa of interfering in areas she believes belong to provincial jurisdiction, including energy, agriculture, policing and other policy areas. She argues that Alberta needs considerably more control over its own affairs.

Her critics see things differently. Smith faced considerable backlash in 2025 after travelling to the United States and meeting American political figures and media personalities while President Donald Trump was threatening Canada with tariffs and repeatedly discussing Canada becoming the "51st state." Critics questioned whether engaging closely with Trump-aligned figures at such a sensitive moment weakened Canada's united response.

Smith rejected those accusations. She argued that speaking directly with Americans was an attempt to protect Alberta jobs and convince U.S. decision-makers to back away from tariffs, not an attempt to undermine Canada.

There is also a separate Alberta independence movement that has added to the controversy. Some separatist activists have openly promoted the possibility of Alberta leaving Canada, and at least one highly publicized billboard urged Albertans to consider joining the United States. That campaign was connected to separatist activists — not an official policy of Danielle Smith's government.

This distinction matters.

Canadians are free to criticize Smith for encouraging greater provincial autonomy, challenging Ottawa, meeting controversial U.S. figures or creating political conditions that some believe strengthen separatist movements. But saying she personally wants Alberta to become an American state would go beyond what the available evidence supports.

Smith's stated position is essentially this: Alberta should remain Canadian, but Ottawa should have less influence over the province.

That position can still raise serious questions about national unity.

At a time when Canada is facing increasing economic and political pressure from the United States, critics may reasonably ask whether Canadian premiers should be emphasizing provincial grievances or presenting a more unified national front. Supporters of Smith, however, argue that defending Alberta's economic interests is part of her job and that disagreement with Ottawa should not automatically be labelled anti-Canadian.

The bigger question may therefore not be "Why is Danielle Smith against Canada?"

It may be:

How far can a provincial premier challenge the federal government, promote provincial sovereignty and cultivate close U.S. relationships before Canadians begin to question where provincial loyalty ends and national responsibility begins?

For now, Smith continues to insist Alberta's future is inside Canada — not as America's 51st state.