In the Canadian province of Alberta, a sense of 'western alienation' has long been simmering, with many residents feeling that their region is often overlooked by politicians in the country's capital.

This sentiment has given rise to a growing separatist movement, with some Albertans calling for the province to become an independent nation state or even join the United States.

A recent gathering in Lethbridge, where locals were asked about Alberta's future, saw about half of the attendees raise their hands in support of pushing for a split from Canada and forming its own nation.Dennis Modry, a co-leader of the Alberta Prosperity Project, a grassroots organization advocating for an independence referendum, believes that the separatist movement has gained momentum in recent months.

He attributes this growth to factors such as Trump's comments about making Canada the 51st US state and the subsequent boost it gave to the Liberal Party in the polls ahead of the federal election.Jeffrey Rath, a lawyer and rancher from Calgary and another co-founder of the project, is not opposed to the idea of Alberta joining the US. He feels that Albertans have more in common with their American neighbors than with other Canadians.

'We have a lot more culturally in common with our neighbours to the south in Montana … (and) with our cousins in Texas, than we do anywhere else,' he said.The possibility of a split has long been a topic of discussion in Alberta, but it has gained new momentum in recent months.

The issue is now being discussed openly, with some prominent figures weighing in on the matter.

Preston Manning, an Albertan considered one of the founders of the modern conservative movement in Canada, warned that 'large numbers of Westerners simply will not stand for another four years of Liberal government, no matter who leads it.' He accused the party of mismanaging national affairs and ignoring the priorities of western Canadians.National polls suggest that the Liberals could be headed for their fourth consecutive win come election day.

This has added to the regional divide, with many in Alberta feeling that their province is underrepresented despite its economic significance to the country as a whole.

The region's oil and gas-rich prairie provinces have long bemoaned how they are overlooked by politicians in Canada's capital.Judy Schneider, whose husband works in the oil industry in Calgary, said she would vote 'yes' in an independence referendum.

She expressed skepticism about Liberal leader Mark Carney, who spent much of the last decade away from Canada but was raised in Edmonton.

'He can come and say 'I'm from Alberta,' but is he?' Ms Schneider said.An independent Alberta remains an unlikely prospect, with a recent Angus Reid poll suggesting that only one in four Albertans would vote to leave Canada if a referendum were held now.

However, a majority of Canadians feel that the issue should be taken seriously, according to a separate Nanos poll.The divide between Alberta and the rest of Canada is expected to pose a challenge to the country's next prime minister, especially if Carney wins.

Even a victory for Calgary-born Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre would 'not solve the imbalance that presently exists between the East and the West,' according to Mr Modry.Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has struck her own path in trade talks with the US, while other provincial leaders and the federal government have coordinated their efforts closely.

She even visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.

In Canada, Smith has publicly warned of a 'national unity crisis' if Alberta's demands, which center around repealing Trudeau-era environmental laws to accelerate oil and gas production, are not met by the new prime minister within six months of the election.While Smith has dismissed talk of outright separation as 'nonsense,' critics have accused her of stoking the flames at such a consequential time for Canada's future.

Lorna Guitton, a born-and-bred Albertan and volunteer with the Alberta Prosperity Project, believes that a referendum or the threat of it will give Albertans 'leverage' in future negotiations with Ottawa.

However, she dismissed any notion of Alberta becoming a 51st US state.At his ranch outside of Calgary, Mr Rath has a different view.

He spoke of the political and social attitudes of free enterprise and small government that are shared by Albertans and many Americans.

'From that perspective, I would see Alberta as being a good fit within the United States,' he said.

He is currently putting together a 'fact-finding' delegation to travel to Washington DC and bring the movement directly to the Trump administration.Many voters in Alberta dismiss the notion of independence altogether, even if they agree that the province has been overlooked.

Steve Lachlan from Lethbridge agrees that the West lacks representation in Ottawa but said: 'We already have separation, and we need to come together.' The Liberals are not entirely shut out from the province, with polls suggesting that Alberta may send more Liberal MPs to Ottawa than in 2021, partly due to changing demographics that led to the creation of new ridings in urban Edmonton and Calgary.