Supporters of independence for the Canadian province of Alberta have reported several contacts with representatives of the US State Department. The parties discussed the possibility of US financial support in the event of the region's separation from Canada.
This was reported by Financial Times and Edmonton Journal.
What is known: a meeting between representatives of the US State Department and leaders of the Alberta Prosperity Project?
According to media reports, the American side plans to hold the next meeting with the Canadians in February. Representatives of the Alberta government and the US Department of the Treasury may join the talks.
The parties are likely to discuss the possibility of providing a $500 billion loan to support the province if the referendum on its withdrawal from Canada is approved.
The State Department did not deny this information, but instead reported that a meeting with “civil society” had taken place. This was allegedly standard practice without any obligations.
Recall that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently called the residents of Alberta “very independent people”. And the oil-rich Canadian province itself – “a natural partner for the US”.
Alberta has a wealth of natural resources, but they will not allow them to build a pipeline to the Pacific Ocean. I think we should allow them to come to the US, and Alberta is a natural partner for the US. They have enormous resources. The people of Alberta are very independent people, Bassett said.
Why does Alberta want to secede from Canada?
It should be noted that the issue of Alberta's independence has been discussed for several years.
In May 2025, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced that she plans to hold a referendum on secession from Canada in 2026 if citizens support a petition to that effect. At the same time, she stressed that she herself does not support such a decision.
Smith accused previous Liberal governments of Canada of introducing a series of legislative acts that limited Alberta's ability to produce and export oil. According to her, the province lost billions of dollars because of this. Smith also stressed that she does not want the Canadian government to interfere in provincial affairs.
One of the latest opinion polls shows that one in five Albertans would vote for secession from Canada, while the rest would vote against it. A poll conducted by Research Co. showed that only 31% of respondents support the idea of Alberta's independence.