U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed his views on the separatist movement in Alberta during an interview on Real America’s Voice, becoming the highest-ranking Trump administration official to touch on the province’s political situation. Bessent suggested that Canada is obstructing Alberta’s plans to construct a pipeline to the Pacific and advocated for closer ties between the U.S. and the province due to their abundant resources and the independent nature of Albertans. He mentioned the possibility of a referendum on Alberta’s status within Canada.
President Trump previously halted trade discussions with Canada after taking offense to an Ontario-sponsored advertisement featuring former President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs, which his administration viewed as Canadian interference in U.S. politics. A Trump administration representative clarified that Bessent’s remarks were in response to a question during an interview and should not be equated with foreign political ads funded by a Canadian province.
In response to Bessent’s comments, government officials in Ottawa emphasized their commitment to diversifying trade and maintaining a strong economy independently. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s spokesperson affirmed the province’s dedication to remaining part of Canada while pursuing pipeline projects in various directions. Some proponents of Alberta’s independence movement have claimed interactions with Trump administration members and are actively gathering signatures for a referendum on Alberta’s independence from Canada.
The movement aims to establish Alberta as a sovereign entity separate from Canada, rather than seeking to join the United States. The organizer of the referendum petition emphasized the desire for Alberta’s sovereignty apart from any external alliances, including the U.S. He mentioned the existing strong trade relationship between Alberta and the U.S. but asserted the movement’s focus on achieving independence for the province without aligning with the U.S.
