When Alberta gives this declaration in five years' time:
"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."
the US should in that situation recognize the Republic of Alberta and establish diplomatic relations. This will probably push the rage of Canadians to 1000 degrees F, but then they will be in no psoition to bargain with Uncle Sam.