Many conservatives who live in Alberta, Canada, have had a gutful of what they say is their government’s heavy-handed policies and are backing an effort to secede.

They want to carve out a new border and become the 51^st of the United States of America.

The issue has been simmering for years, but when the Canadian government froze bank accounts and took over credit cards of people who participated in or donated to the “Freedom Convoy” — a trucker protest against COVID-19 policies that blocked streets, bridges and a border crossing in Ottawa, Ontario, in early February 2022 — simmering emotions reached a boiling point.

The bank accounts and credit cards were released by Canadian banks after about two weeks, but the matter is far from resolved.

Disgruntled Canadians cite government overreach on gun control, high taxes and authoritarian control of Alberta’s abundant natural resources.

Now a petition drive by the Alberta 51 Project is underway to collect signatures and put the issue to Alberta voters. According to media reports, Canadian officials say it’s a longshot at best. Polling indicates fewer than a third of Albertans support the effort.

Along with winning a vote, the Canadian Parliament would have to amend its constitution to allow for secession.

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