Billboard promoting Alberta to join USA pops up north of Calgary
Posted Feb 20, 2025 11:06 pm.
Last Updated Feb 21, 2025 12:26 am.
A billboard promoting Alberta to join the U.S.A. that recently popped up on Highway 2 north of Calgary has sparked some backlash, with many drivers wondering who’s behind the giant advertisement.
The sign comes months after President Donald Trump first made remarks on Canada becoming the 51st U.S. State — messaging the now sitting president has continued to push since taking office for his second term on Jan. 20.
The billboard promotes a website called AmericaFund.ca, shows a photo of Premier Danielle Smith and Trump, and reads “tell Danielle, let’s join the USA.”
The site collects donations and advocates for Canada to become a part of the United States.
The large digital billboard greets drivers on the province’s busiest highway near Bowden, Alta. The town’s mayor says they have nothing to do with it.
“It has absolutely nothing to do with the town of Bowden,” says mayor Robb Stuart. “It is a private company that had put up that signage.”
There has been some speculation online as to where the funds for the billboard ad came from, the communication officer of American Fund tells CityNews in a statement “our billboards are funded by regular Albertans who want what president Trump is offering Canada.”
The statement from the group cites the first amendment, second amendment, less taxes, and no more equalizations payments to Ottawa as reasons for advocating the change.
The group say it is time for Smith to tell Albertans where she stands on the issue.
Smith previously visited then President-elect Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida in January in an effort to appeal to him and other American lawmakers amid his ongoing tariff threats.
She later expressed disappointment when Trump announced he would follow through on those threats — though the tariffs on Canadian imports to the U.S. are still not set to come into effect until March.
Recent polling from Leger suggests a surge in patriotism among Canadians in the wake of Trump’s tariffs threats and his talk of absorbing Canada into the U.S.
The poll suggested over 80 per cent of Canadians are concerned about Trump leveraging Canada’s reliance on U.S. trade to pressure the country into a closer union with U.S., and about half of them said they are “very concerned.”
The survey also suggest a swell of national pride, with 85 per cent of Canadians saying they feel proud to call the country home, and nearly 60 per cent saying they’re “very proud.”
With files from The Canadian Press
