In Coutts, Alberta, the separation debate feels personal

Hundreds of trucks travel between Canada and the United States every day through the commercial border crossing near Coutts, a village in southern Alberta. As Albertans vote on whether to remain in Canada or begin the process of leaving, residents are weighing what separation could mean for a community closely connected to its American neighbours.

William Hardy, who owns the Double Tree Motel near the crossing, opposes separation but sees the referendum as a chance for Alberta to send Ottawa a message. “I think it’s about time Alberta stands up,” he said. “We’ve been getting ripped off by the feds.” Hardy also worries that independence could leave Alberta vulnerable to U.S. President Donald Trump. “If you separate, Mr. Trump might come up and take us all over,” he said.

Former Coutts mayor Jim Willett also opposes separation and doubts Alberta will ultimately leave Canada, given the lengthy legal process required. Still, he thinks the referendum could show more support for separation than some polls suggest, particularly in rural Alberta. He expects the vote to be much closer than many pollsters have predicted.

The referendum comes as Canada and the United States remain embroiled in a trade war, adding uncertainty for a border community whose economy partly depends on cross-border traffic. Greg Anderson, a political science professor at the University of Alberta who specializes in Canada-U.S. relations, called the timing particularly challenging. He said Trump arrived at a precarious and vulnerable moment for Canada’s political and economic situation, while Alberta’s separatist movement is also gaining attention.

If Alberta eventually became independent, Coutts could become an even more significant gateway to the United States, Anderson said. It would be a major international border crossing, perhaps the most important one for an independent Alberta. Access to American markets and transport routes to the U.S. West Coast would be critical for a landlocked province, he added.

Anderson rejected the idea that an independent Alberta would become an American state, calling it preposterous from the American point of view and saying he wished Canadians would stop taking the bait. Hardy is less certain about what independence could bring. He joked that annexation might mean more customers at his motel, but questioned whether he would still receive his pension and health care.

“Forever Canadian” signs and signs supporting Alberta independence are scattered throughout Coutts. The community of just over 200 people has experienced political tensions before. It became a flashpoint during the 2022 border blockade against COVID-19 restrictions, which disrupted cross-border traffic and strained relationships among neighbours.

Willett, who was mayor during the blockade, said tensions have eased since then. Residents disagree about separation, but he does not see the same level of confrontation today. “It doesn’t become anything personal,” he said. “You don’t have people at each other’s throats, or you’re a separatist, and you’re a federalist, and we’re going to have a fight. People know where they stand.”

Anderson said the broader challenge extends beyond the referendum. Prime Minister Mark Carney has spoken about addressing some of the frustrations driving western alienation, he said, but Canadians need to see results. “At some point, the rhetoric has got to turn into real substance and being able to say, ‘hey, look, we’ve done this and we’ve fixed this.’”

Back in Coutts, Hardy continues to watch trucks and travellers move between the two countries. That relationship helps sustain his business, and he hopes it will not be complicated by Alberta becoming a country of its own.