'Good neighbours': Montana residents share thoughts on Trump's '51st state' threat

SHELBY, MONT. -

As U.S. president-elect Donald Trump threatens to annex Canada, some residents in Montana are sharing their thoughts on the idea of Canada becoming the “51st state.”

After previously trolling Canada by referring to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the “governor” of the "great state of Canada" in social media posts, Trump’s rhetoric escalated this week when he threatened to use “economic force” to take the country.

CTV News visited the City of Shelby, Mont., about 55 kilometres south of the Coutts/Sweetgrass Border Crossing in Alberta, to get Montanans’ thoughts on the idea.

“I’ve had a lot of business dealings with Canadians in Alberta, and they're great, great people,” said Shelby resident John Alsdad.

“The people, good people, good neighbours,” said Ken Wolf. “We love Alberta, and it’s a good country.”

Trump's first shot at Canada came in November, when he said he would impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian and Mexican imports as soon as he returns to the White House on Jan. 20, unless the two countries improve security along their borders with the U.S.

Shelby, Mont., is home to about 3,300 people, where agriculture and the outdoors dominate the landscape.

Just up Interstate 15 is Alberta and its energy riches, which many in this small city seem keen to lay American claim to.

“We can use Canadian oil, and the XL pipeline wouldn't be all bad,” said Alsdad.

“That’s Trump pushing a few buttons,” said John Hagman, a resident in Shelby.

“It'll probably never happen. But there's a possibility of a merger economically between the two countries, and that would be the most unstoppable force, military wise, economically wise, in the world.”

“We can use Canada’s energy, all the AI stuff, that type of an economic merger would be pretty amazing.”

Montana’s largest export market is Canada, with one billion dollars U.S. in goods exported in 2023.

It’s a critical economic partnership that could be hurt if Ottawa retaliates to Trump’s 25 per cent tariff threat with its own taxes.

For now, economic experts say they're concentrating on strengthening ties.

“We’re focused on continuing our cross-border partnership,” said Brett Doney, president and CEO of the Great Falls Development Alliance.

“We have a number of businesses and farmers and ranchers in Montana that have long had business connections in Alberta and Lethbridge in particular, so it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.”

To help with that, in 2024, the Great Falls Development Alliance signed an MOU with Economic Development Lethbridge to continue to work with partners in each region when it comes to exporting and importing goods.

“It’s hard to do business here, so every connection we can make across the border that strengthens us both is a positive thing,” said Doney.

In the 2024 election, the Republican Party swept the state of Montana, winning the presidential, senate and governor races.

While many are in favour of Trump’s comments, some who spoke to CTV News expressed their disagreement with Canada joining the U.S., while others said they’d prefer to see select provinces join.