A Canadian group seeking the secession of the oil-rich province of Alberta has held multiple meetings with members of the US administration, sparking concerns of foreign interference. The Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) has met with US officials at least three times since April, according to a report by the Financial Times. While US officials described the meetings as routine civic engagements, critics argue that the campaign is being amplified by foreign actors.
The APP, which advocates for independence from Ottawa and opposes globalism, is gathering signatures for a petition to hold an independence referendum. The group has until May to collect at least 177,732 eligible voter signatures to advance. The organization’s legal counsel, Jeff Rath, stated that the US is “extremely enthusiastic” about a free and independent Alberta. However, the group did not disclose the names of the US officials they met with, describing them only as senior-level.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously mentioned the potential referendum in an interview, suggesting that an independent Alberta would be a “natural partner” for the US. Meanwhile, Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, alleged that there is “evidence of foreign interference” in the signature-gathering process, citing pro-separatist online posts that appear to be inorganic.
The development comes amid rising tensions between the US and Canada, with US President Donald Trump suggesting that Canada would be better off as part of the US. Trump has also accused the Canadian government of being influenced by China. In a recent speech, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney noted that the Western “rules-based order” is fracturing and urged smaller nations to stop upholding a system that he said was always partly based on convenient lies.
The APP claims that there is an organized effort to derail its canvassing, while critics argue that the secession campaign is being fueled by foreign interests. As the deadline for collecting signatures approaches, the controversy surrounding the APP’s meetings with US officials is likely to continue. The outcome of the petition and the potential referendum will have significant implications for the future of Alberta and its relationship with the rest of Canada.
