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As the oilpatch looks to expands its markets, including China, the U.S. administration is being urged to ‘develop a hemisphere-focused energy policy’
By This Article and More From Ricky Leong Here
It’s been just about a year since U.S. President Donald Trump started his on-again-off-again musings about annexing Canada.
Shortly after those comments came to light, something curious started to happen on my social media feeds: wedged in between the usual messages were ads for hats and T-shirts advocating for Alberta to become the 51st state.
At the time, I figured it was because I click on all sorts of things for work. But as time went on, I noticed social media would rarely serve me ads for apparel expressing Canadian patriotism and national unity.
How curious.
With Canadian political leaders continually expressing concerns about foreign interference in domestic politics, I doubt they had this kind of insidious messaging in mind.
It’s practically impossible to trace and block, or to keep anyone accountable for the messaging or the money spent.
On the other hand, some politicians have been practically inviting foreign interference.
You may recall how Alberta Premier Danielle Smith lamented last year of the impact Trump had on the Canadian political landscape, with his sabre-rattling on trade and annexation negatively affecting the federal Conservative Party.
Meanwhile, top members of the Alberta separatist movements have been advertising their frequent visits to the United States with the stated goal of securing political and financial backing to achieve their goals.
There have been no obvious expressions of concern about such an invitation for a foreign government to inject itself into a clearly domestic affair.
And if you expect the U.S. government to exercise restraint, maybe you shouldn’t.
The current administration’s actions have been leaning heavily on a document called Project 2025, a long manifesto of sorts authored by leading conservative thinkers and activists to reshape the United States.
(During the presidential campaign, you may recall Trump had disavowed all knowledge of and connection with this document and everything it advocates for.)
While Project 2025 encourages the U.S. government to do all it can to prevent foreign entities from exerting any influence on American policies, it has no such reservations about projecting the United States’ desires on other countries for the purposes of furthering the U.S.’s objectives.
Consider this passage advocating for a re-orientation of energy policy: “The United States must work with Mexico, Canada, and other countries to develop a hemisphere-focused energy policy that will reduce reliance on distant and manipulable sources of fossil fuels, restore the free flow of energy among the hemisphere’s largest producers, and work together to increase energy production, including for nations that are looking for dramatic economic expansion.”
Elsewhere, the document says: “The next conservative Administration should … Promote U.S. energy resources as a means to assist our allies and diminish our strategic adversaries.”
Separately, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently talked up Alberta’s energy resources while speaking with an American alt-right media personality, suggesting improved connections on this front.
But what happens if Canada wants to try something else?
The governments of Alberta and Canada have expressed strong interest in diversifying its customer base for energy — and this would include selling petroleum products to China.
Trump has expressed misgivings about increased Canada-China trade in general, stating on social media over the weekend how the U.S. would further tariff Canadian goods should a Sino-Canadian economic deal be struck. At the same time, he’s stated he doesn’t need anything from Canada.
Trump’s mixed messaging and the global projection of U.S. nationalism are unavoidable as Canada attempts to form new economic links amid continually toxic conversations on trade emanating from the United States. With this in mind, it’s no surprise Alberta and its oilpatch are eager to expand their horizons.
But with Alberta separatists continuing to actively court American involvement in their movement, I wonder how tempting it is for the U.S. administration to leverage this to get its way.
We have all the signs for some very complicated and choppy political seas ahead. Brace yourselves.
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