Elon Musk has weighed in on Canadian unity, and he's not a fan.

After betting market Polymarket posted that Quebec's new premier dreams of independence, Musk replied: "Good. Quebec should separate." He added that Quebec would be better off, and that "Alberta and Saskatchewan should separate, too."

Ezra said that when one of the world's most consequential men speaks, it's worth noticing. Musk spent more than $100 million helping elect Donald Trump and, despite their falling out, recently sat beside the president at a White House meeting of AI executives.

So does it matter that he's cheering for three provinces to leave Canada?

Former federal opposition leader Stockwell Day called Musk one of the smartest people in the world on technology and space. But on politics, he said, Musk may not realize that an American making these statements could push Canadians in the opposite direction.

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Just as Trump's comments during the federal election rallied people around the Liberals, Day said, Musk's posts could end up strengthening the status quo.

Ezra agreed. He believes Trump's interference panicked a million middle-of-the-road voters away from Pierre Poilievre and toward Mark Carney. Musk's posts, he said, may energize hardcore independence supporters while turning off voters in the middle.

Day, who has been travelling Alberta taking part in independence debates, said the people he meets on the "exit" side are highly motivated, and Musk's comments may add a spark ahead of this month's referendum.

But Ezra pointed out that independence is just one of 10 questions on the ballot, several of which deal with immigration and whether foreign nationals should receive social assistance and free health care.

Day said those questions deserve more attention.

Albertans are frustrated with uncontrolled immigration and its strain on health care, roads and schools. They're upset that courts are reluctant to deport non-citizens who commit crimes. He supports international students who come to learn and return home, but not those who stay and burden the system.

And historically, he said, immigrants never arrived expecting welfare.

"Premier Smith, quite rightly, is asking Albertans if they like that idea," Day said.