Overview
- Reports confirm Alberta separatist leaders held multiple meetings with U.S. State Department officials, which the department characterized as routine with no commitments.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney publicly urged the United States to respect Canada’s sovereignty following the contacts, as British Columbia’s premier called the outreach “treason” and Alberta’s premier declined to denounce it.
- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he was aware of independence referendum proposals and described Alberta as a “natural partner.”
- Stay Free Alberta and the Alberta Prosperity Project are running a petition to collect 177,732 signatures by May 2 to force a provincial referendum on independence.
- Bilateral tensions escalated as President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs and floated annexation, while polls and experts point to weak backing for secession and significant legal and infrastructure obstacles.