Given that Canada only has 10 provinces and three territories, one would think it wouldn't be too challenging to list them all in a Canada Day speech--one would think.
As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau learned over the weekend, this is apparently easier said than done. Trudeau, speaking on Canada's 150th birthday on Saturday on Canada Day, attempted to list off each province and territory in an effort to to point out that while Canada is diverse, they're united in how they're all Canadians.
Because there's nothing more Canadian than a Trudeau completely forgetting Alberta even exists. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/MfBmv1L4SN
— Blake Robert (@BRinYWG) July 1, 2017
"We may live in British Columbia, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador. But we embrace that diversity while knowing in our hearts that we are all Canadians."
...except he forgot Alberta, home to about four million Canadians, who, understandably, were pretty ticked.
Trudeau forgetting to mention Alberta when listing off Canadian provinces is going to be a thing for a while.
— David Common (@davidcommon) July 1, 2017
Imagine if Alberta "forgot" a transfer payment or two? #Trudeau #canada150 #yeg
— Scott Johnston (@Scott630CHED) July 1, 2017
#Canada150 Did Justin Trudeau really leave out Alberta in his speech? I'm howling here, oh my God what a moron.#wakeupJustin #Canada
— Choosey Lucy (@chooseylucy1) July 1, 2017
Trudeau posts grade 5 Canadian geography test to refrigerator after only forgetting Alberta. #Canada150 #cdnpoli
— The Beaverton (@TheBeaverton) July 1, 2017
Given that Trudeau (and his father, former PM Pierre Trudeau) has a history of some not-so-nice remarks about Alberta, many wondered if the omission was intentional. Alberta is the most conservative-leaning of the country's provinces.
Trudeau eventually apologized to the province.
Got too excited somewhere over the Rockies. Sorry Alberta, I love you. Happy Canada Day!
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 1, 2017