US Officials Held Secret Meetings with Alberta Separatists Seeking Independence from Canada
Officials from the Trump administration have engaged in three clandestine meetings since April 2025 with representatives of the Alberta Prosperity Project, a separatist group advocating for the oil-rich province's independence from Canada. These covert discussions have sparked significant interest and controversy, highlighting the complex dynamics between the United States and its northern neighbor.
Alberta Prosperity Project Seeks Substantial Financial Support
The Alberta Prosperity Project is actively pursuing another meeting with US officials scheduled for next month. During this anticipated discussion, the group plans to request a massive $500 billion credit facility from the United States. This substantial financial package is intended to help bankroll the province in the event that an independence referendum—which has not yet been officially announced—is successfully passed by Alberta voters.
Jeff Rath, the legal counsel for the Alberta Prosperity Project, revealed to the Financial Times that "the US is extremely enthusiastic about a free and independent Alberta." This statement suggests a level of American interest that contrasts sharply with official government positions.
US Government Downplays Significance of Meetings
Both the State Department and the White House have moved quickly to minimize the importance of these secret meetings. A State Department spokesperson characterized the encounters as routine, stating: "The department regularly meets with civil society types. As is typical in routine meetings such as these, no commitments were made."
Echoing this sentiment, a White House official told the Financial Times: "Administration officials meet with a number of civil society groups. No such support, or any other commitments, was conveyed." These statements appear designed to reassure Canadian officials and maintain diplomatic decorum between the two nations.
US Treasury Secretary Calls Alberta a "Natural Partner"
In a recent interview that has raised eyebrows in diplomatic circles, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described Alberta as "a natural partner for the US." Bessent elaborated on this characterization by noting: "They have great resources, the Albertans are very independent people. Rumoured that they may have a referendum on whether they want to stay in Canada or not."
The Treasury Secretary further added: "People want sovereignty. They want what the US has got." These comments from a high-ranking US official have provided additional fuel to the independence movement while creating diplomatic complications for both governments.
Alberta Premier Rejects Statehood Aspirations
Alberta Premier Daniell Smith has firmly rejected the notion that her province seeks to join the United States. Sam Blackett, a spokesperson for Premier Smith, emphasized: "The overwhelming majority of Albertans are not interested in statehood. The Premier supports a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada."
This official position from Alberta's leadership creates a significant contrast with the separatist movement's objectives and the apparent interest from certain US quarters.
Alberta's Crucial Role in Canadian Oil Production
The strategic importance of Alberta in this geopolitical equation cannot be overstated. The province accounts for approximately 85% of Canada's total oil production, making it the economic engine of a nation that ranks as the world's fourth-largest oil producer. This substantial energy resource represents a major factor in both the separatist movement's aspirations and any potential international interest in Alberta's future status.
Grassroots Movement Gains Momentum Across Alberta
The separatist movement continues to build momentum through organized grassroots efforts. Stay Free Alberta, another organization advocating for provincial independence, is currently hosting town halls and petition signing events across Alberta. If campaigners accredited by Elections Alberta manage to gather more than 177,000 verified signatures, this would trigger the formal process for a fall referendum on the province's independence from Canada.
These developments represent a significant challenge to Canadian federal unity while creating delicate diplomatic considerations for the United States government as it navigates relationships with both Ottawa and the increasingly vocal Alberta independence movement.
