Fact check: Is Alberta introducing or passing a bill to become independent of Canada and join the US?

1. Summary of the results

Alberta is NOT introducing a bill to become independent or join the US. Instead, Bill 54 is being introduced to lower the threshold for citizen-led referendums from 20% to 10% of voters ^[1]. Premier Danielle Smith has explicitly stated she is not a separatist and believes in "Alberta sovereignty within a united Canada" ^[1]. While the bill makes it procedurally easier to trigger referendums, it does not itself declare independence or propose joining the US ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are missing from the original question:

• There is an active separatist movement, with the Commonwealth of Alberta Delegation working towards establishing independence by December 2025 ^[2]
• Approximately 37% of Albertans have expressed interest in sovereignty ^[2]
• The Republican Party of Alberta's leader Cameron Davies is promising "hundreds of townhalls to promote a divorce from Canada" ^[1]
• Polls show 30% of Albertans might support separation if the Liberal Party wins another election ^[3]
• Political columnist Graham Thomson describes separation as a "pipe dream" used to inflame rhetoric against the federal government ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question suggests a direct link between government action and independence/US statehood, which misrepresents the situation in several ways:

• The discussion of US statehood is actually being used as a strategic negotiation tactic to gain leverage with Ottawa, rather than a serious proposal ^[4]
• While separatist sentiment exists, it's primarily driven by opposition groups and citizen movements, not the current provincial government ^[1]
• The bill in question (Bill 54) is about democratic reform and citizen initiatives, not separation ^[1]

Those who benefit from promoting the separation narrative include:

• Opposition politicians like the Republican Party of Alberta, who use it to build support
• The Commonwealth of Alberta Delegation, seeking to establish an independent state
• The provincial government, which can use separation threats as leverage in negotiations with the federal government ^[4]