Alberta's decisive decision to stay in Canada gives Carney backing to take on Trump

And, in this defining time for the separatist camp, some in their ranks didn't hide their direction of travel. Some of their most prominent leaders admitted they travelled to Washington three times last year to meet US State Department officials and outline what an independent Alberta could offer – including a possible oil pipeline through the US to the Pacific.But the rest of the world may take only passing notice of what was, for Canada, an historic vote sparking conversations and concerns across the country, from coast to coast to coast.ReutersMark Carney and Alberta's leader Danielle Smith has worked closely on pushing for an oil pipeline to the west coast from the landlocked province. "Short of a vote to separate, most foreign governments, with the exception of the United States, have little interest in domestic Canadian politics," says Professor Janice Stein, founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto."Foreign investors are focused on the time it will take to complete major infrastructure projects, a return on investment, and predictable regulations," she explains in a nod to Carney's long list of megaprojects he hopes will eventually turbocharge economic growth. They're all costly; many will take years to build.An ambitious blueprint already includes a proposed pipeline to the Pacific coast which opens opportunities for Alberta's oil to reach Asian markets – a move which also addresses Alberta's long-standing grievance that its economy has been stifled by federal policies, including environmental regulations.At a rally in Alberta last week, it was Carney's comment that the pipeline "will reduce our dependence on the United States" that triggered the loudest and longest applause of the night.After Monday's vote, Carney – the former UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance – pointed to "unleashing our full potential as a global energy superpower with Alberta as its core". Political and economic pressures now seem to eclipse his green credentials.