The Canucks are simply being unfailingly polite.
Greenland and Canada have both set out why they’re not big fans of the idea - they don’t have school shootings, their society isn’t deeply polarised, they don’t get bankrupted by extortionate private healthcare, they don’t mind paying taxes, and they don’t mind paying import tariffs.
Alberta is looking at the offer from the US and saying, very politely, it is worth a discussion. In much the same way that my Dad said he was “open to a talk about it” when six-year-old me said I wanted an ant farm with army ants in it.
I didn’t get one.
I disagree with the overall premise of your opinion, I am in agreement though that Statehood is just not going to happen. Alberta I think is semi-serious though as there is a lot of animosity between them and Ontario and their government currently.
I understand the idea is unpopular, as for everything else they have been wildly naïve and blissfully so. They have lived under the default protection of the US and it is time for them to stand on their own economically and militarily.
No more unbalanced trade, either no tariffs across the board or reciprocal tariffs, they need to own it and find another way to run their country as opposed to on the back of the American consumer.