Alberta

Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) suggested the United States should make Alberta its “51st state” if the oil-rich province breaks away from Canada, jumping on President Donald Trump’s repeated tease of the nation’s northern neighbor.

The House Republican floated the prospect during an interview on Newsmax’s National Report Monday morning while defending Trump’s aggressive approach toward Canada and other U.S. allies.

“Well, look, the fact of the matter is Alberta is talking about seceding from Canada,” the lawmaker said, adding: “We should make it the 51st state. Tremendous oil reserves there.”

Harris had earlier praised Trump for challenging what he described as an “unlevel playing field” between the U.S. and NATO allies and other countries, casting the president’s trade war with Canada as part of the same push.

His remarks came one day after Trump ratcheted up that dispute, demanding that Canadian companies move their headquarters and production operations to the United States if they want to escape his administration’s incoming tariffs.

[Albertans are due to vote October 19 on whether the province should remain part of Canada or proceed toward a later, binding referendum on independence.]