Ottawa/Edmonton: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he expects the United States to respect Canada’s sovereignty following reports that officials from the Trump administration held meetings with a separatist group advocating independence for the oil-rich province of Alberta.
Speaking to reporters alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Carney said he had been unequivocal with US President Donald Trump on the issue. “I expect the US administration to respect Canadian sovereignty — I’m always clear with President Trump to that effect,” he said.
The remarks followed a report by the Financial Times that representatives of the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) — a group seeking a referendum on Alberta’s independence — had met US State Department officials in Washington on at least three occasions since April 2025.
Alberta Referendum Push
The Alberta Prosperity Project has received approval to collect signatures in support of a petition that could trigger a referendum on making Alberta an independent country. According to the Financial Times, the group is now seeking another meeting with US officials next month, where it plans to propose a $500-billion credit facility to help finance Alberta in the event an independence referendum is approved. No formal referendum has yet been announced.
Both the US State Department and the White House sought to play down the meetings. A State Department spokesperson said the department “regularly meets with civil society groups” and stressed that “no commitments were made” during the interactions.
Canadian Political Reaction
Premier Danielle Smith said she also expected Washington to respect Canadian sovereignty and indicated she would raise any concerns about possible interference directly with US authorities. While reiterating her support for a “sovereign Alberta within a united Canada,” Smith accused former prime minister Justin Trudeau of undermining Alberta’s economy, particularly through policies perceived as hostile to the province’s oil and gas sector.
The issue has sparked strong reactions across Canada. British Columbia Premier David Eby condemned the reported meetings, saying that seeking foreign assistance to break up Canada amounted to “treason.”
Roots of Discontent
Resentment toward Ottawa has long simmered in Alberta, especially during Trudeau’s tenure. Many Albertans argued that the former government’s climate-focused agenda unfairly targeted the oil industry, which underpins the province’s economy, and blocked key infrastructure projects.
An Ipsos poll recently found that around 30 per cent of Alberta residents would support initiating the process of separating from Canada. However, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said she believed most Albertans continue to favour national unity.
Pipeline Deal and Next Steps
Carney recently signed an agreement with Alberta that could pave the way for an oil pipeline to the Pacific coast, a move Smith said could help reduce support for independence. The project, however, faces strong opposition from British Columbia and significant regulatory and environmental hurdles.
Under Alberta’s rules, if campaigners accredited by Elections Alberta collect more than 177,000 verified signatures, the formal process for holding a referendum on independence could be triggered later this year.
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