As Canada’s premiers met with the prime minister yesterday to game-plan for the upcoming CUSMA review, a giant Alberta-shaped spectre hung over the proceedings.
Driving the news: The U.S. State Department confirmed reports that leaders of a far-right separatist group, the Alberta Prosperity Project, met with officials three times since last April. The group plans to meet State and Treasury officials next month with a huge ask: a $500 billion credit facility to help start the new nation if an independence referendum passes.
Stay Free Alberta, another separatist group, is petitioning for an independence referendum and needs around 178,000 signatures by May to trigger one.
The revelations come days after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned Alberta separatism on a podcast, calling the province “a natural partner for the US.”
Big picture: When asked about the meetings, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said that the U.S. should “respect Canada’s sovereignty” and that Alberta’s delegate to D.C. would raise the issue. PM Mark Carney didn’t have much to say besides repeating the demand to respect sovereignty.
Elsewhere, Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the talks “unacceptable” and called on Smith to denounce separation. B.C. Premier David Eby minced even fewer words, labelling the talks “treason.”
Why it matters: Sources told the Financial Times the U.S. Treasury isn’t bankrolling squat, but the incident shows how the separatist movement gives the U.S. an opportunity to sow dissent at a time when it's actively trying to undermine Canada’s economy and autonomy.
What’s next: As of right now, separation feels quite unlikely. A new Ipsos poll found 29% of Albertans support separating, with that number halving when asked to consider the financial hardships. However, the Alberta Prosperity Project claims its own internal polling shows 40% support for separatism provincewide, with support jumping to 60% in rural areas.—QH