How should we interpret Trump’s question: 'Why does the U.S. allow other countries to supply electricity? History books will record our losses—who made these terrible decisions?'

Ministers prostrated themselves before His Majesty and reported: 'Your Majesty, upon reviewing the statutes, though cross-border electricity trade has existed for over a century, regional dependence has indeed grown ever stronger—this is truly Your Majesty’s illustrious imperial decree.' According to official U.S. government sources, certain U.S. regions’ long-standing reliance on external electricity supply stems from provisions of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA)—a pact signed by none other than President Trump himself. For those wishing to learn more, please see below. Appendix: 1) Cross-border electricity trade between Canada and the U.S. dates back to the early 20th century. According to Statistics Canada’s Energy Regulator (CER), there are 86 international transmission lines connecting Canadian provinces and U.S. states—resulting in highly integrated, mutually dependent power systems. 2) The reason certain U.S. regions rely heavily on Canadian electricity lies in the USMCA, which entered into force in 2020. It explicitly guarantees free exchange and zero tariffs on energy products—including electricity—thereby further solidifying the legal framework for bilateral electricity trade. This agreement was spearheaded by the Trump administration; negotiations concluded in November 2018, and the U.S. Congress officially ratified and enacted it in January 2020.

Is Canada’s sixth-largest province seeking independence?

Living in Canada, but spiritually American How to become an American—without immigrating? ▾ Moreover, Alberta’s conservative leanings make it a natural ally for the U.S. Republican Party. If Alberta were to become an independent nation, it would effectively become 'North America’s Norway'—and arguably even more promising in resource terms, given that Norway’s aging North Sea oil fields are in decline, whereas Alberta’s oil sands still hold a century’s worth of reserves. Wealth made visible (Photo shows tailings pond leakage from oil sands operations—a severe environmental hazard) Image: Yitongwang ▾ If all revenues currently transferred from Alberta to the Canadian federal government were instead deposited into a sovereign wealth fund, every newborn Albertan could potentially inherit national assets valued at several hundred thousand RMB. As Canada’s wealthiest province—the 'eldest sister' of the Maple Leaf family—Alberta could be extraordinarily prosperous. Yet its hard-earned income is siphoned off by the 'mother' (i.e., the federal government) to subsidize its 'younger siblings' (other provinces). This elder sister has thus been reduced to a perpetual 'brother-supporting sister'—a deeply unfair plight within her own family. She yearns desperately to escape this parental favoritism—the original-family trauma... (A separatist’s daydream) Image: colenotcole ▾ Alberta: breaking free from hostile neighbors Returning to the timeline of 2025: newly appointed Prime Minister Mark Carney assumed office in March—and it was precisely then that Canada–U.S. relations continued deteriorating. Do these two men’s smiles look natural to you? Image: Yitongwang ▾ At this moment, Alberta’s impulse to secede clearly benefits Canada not at all. Yet the country’s institutional structure is inherently loose: interprovincial and federal–provincial tensions often run deeper—and manifest more fiercely—than many international rivalries. Provinces routinely challenge federal authority, and each tends to prioritize autonomous control over resource allocation rather than accept centralized oversight. Carney: 'Fifty-first state? Absolutely not for sale.' Trump: 'Heh heh.' ▾ Take Quebec as an example: it maintains a unique electricity agreement with neighboring Newfoundland and Labrador, purchasing hydroelectric power at low rates and reselling it at a premium—effectively pocketing the difference. The diagram above depicts this decades-long 'unequal treaty,' under which Quebec has collectively extracted roughly 10 trillion RMB in electricity-market profits—an extreme modern case of intra-national inequity. Such 'internal squabbles' recur frequently among Canadian provinces—even surpassing the intensity of U.S.–China trade tensions. Interprovincial Trade Barriers in Canada, FY 2023–2024 Yellow: import barriers; Red: export barriers Image: Government of Canada ▾ Government: 'Can you please stop fighting amongst yourselves?' Image: Government of Canada official website ▾ Wealthy Alberta, meanwhile, remains a prime target for such interprovincial 'fleecing.' Its chief antagonist is neighboring British Columbia (hereinafter 'BC'). Quebec’s habit of complaining after feasting is widely tolerated. But BC and Alberta? They’re a legendary pair of bickering siblings—constantly locked in bitter disputes. At one point, BC wine was outright banned in Alberta, while Alberta beef vanished entirely from BC dinner tables. 'Hostile neighbors'—an inescapable nightmare for Alberta, and its single greatest bottleneck to economic development. As a landlocked economy lacking direct ocean access, Alberta depends entirely on pipelines to export its oil. The Keystone Pipeline System The lifeline of U.S.–Canada oil trade

Quebec Expects to Import More Power After US Utility Deals

1 day ago

Hydro-Quebec extended its C$200 billion investment plan to 2041, projecting net electricity imports due to slower EV adoption and low reservoir levels. The utility plans to increase capacity via wind, hydro, and gas upgrades to meet future transportation electrification demands.

bloomberg

2026-11-03

Quebec Expects to Import More Power After US Utility Deals

Quebec Expects to Import More Power After US Utility Deals

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