Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta’s premier say the US should respect Canadian sovereignty after reports emerged that Alberta separatists had talked to the Trump administration about the province possibly leaving Canada.
Carney said they “expect the US administration to respect Canadian sovereignty – I’m always clear with President Trump to that effect”.
Similarly, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she expected US officials to leave discussions about the province’s “democratic process” to Albertans and Canadians.
Currently, Alberta separatists are collecting signatures for a petition process that could lead to a referendum on leaving Canada.
The Financial Times has reported they had meetings with US officials, which drew criticism from some Canadian premiers.
British Columbia Premier David Eby said that “to go to a country and ask for assistance in breaking up Canada – there’s an old-fashioned word for that, and that word is ‘treason'”.
Jeffrey Rath, a separatism supporter who had meetings in Washington, called Eby’s comment “stupid”.
Rath, co-founder of the Alberta Prosperity Project, a grassroots organisation pushing for an independence referendum, told the BBC on Thursday that his group has travelled to Washington on three occasions in the last year, as private citizens on a “fact-finding basis”.
Their meetings with senior officials were conducted as “a feasiblity study” on a possible $500bn (£362bn) line of credit should the province separate, he said, adding that his group was not soliciting funding.
He declined to say who the group met with.
Asked about the Financial Times report, a White House official told the BBC that “administration officials meet with a number of civil society groups. No such support, or any other commitments, was conveyed”.
Canadian premiers are gathered in Ottawa with Carney ahead of trade talks involving a review of the US-Canada-Mexico free trade deal.
Smith said she will ensure her concerns are raised with US officials in Washington and the US ambassador.
While her party supports a “strong” Alberta within Canada, she said she would not “demonise” Albertans who support a referendum.
“What we need to do is we need to give Albertans hope,” she said.
Last week, a top Trump official weighed in on the separatist movement, suggesting the US would work with an independent province.
“Alberta has a wealth of natural resources, but they won’t let them build a pipeline to the Pacific,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a televised interview.
“I think we should let them come down into the US,” he added. “And Alberta is a natural partner for the US. They have great resources. The Albertans are very independent people.”
Anger with Ottawa has long been brewing in the western province, in particular over development of its natural resources, but an independent Alberta remains unlikely.
Carney recently signed an agreement with Alberta opening the door for an oil pipeline to the Pacific, though it is opposed by Eby and faces significant hurdles.
Recent polling by Ipsos suggests that approximately three in 10 Alberta residents would vote to begin the process of separating and a new agreement on its relations with Canada.
But the poll indicated that about 20% of those saw a leave vote as a “symbolic” way to express their political frustrations.
Late last year more than 430,000 signatures were gathered for a petition calling for a united Canada to counter the separatist push.
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said on Thursday she believed most Albertans want a united Canada.
“I think you’re talking about a minority of people who are agitating,” she said. “I am very optimistic that the majority of Albertans will demonstrate their love for this country and their desire to be a part of it.”
By BBC News
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