I find it hard not to imagine a scenario in which the USA would strangle an independent Alberta economically with designs to, at the minimum get oil for bottom

I find it hard not to imagine a scenario in which the USA would strangle an independent Alberta economically with designs to, at the minimum get oil for bottom dollar, or maximally to absorb it as a territory. It's what they're doing to Canada right now. We have a fighting chance, I don't imagine Alberta (or any other province) alone does.