OTTAWA — In a diplomatic escalation that has exposed deep fractures in North American relations, the Canadian government has formally objected to covert meetings between officials from the Trump administration and separatist leaders from the province of Alberta. The revelation comes at a precarious moment for the continent, with U.S. President Donald Trump openly floating the idea of annexing Canada as the 51st state—a proposal that has moved from rhetorical bluster to active geopolitical maneuvering.A Breach of Sovereignty

Reports confirm that leaders of the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP)—a hardline group advocating for Alberta to break away from the Canadian confederation—have held multiple secret meetings with Trump officials in Washington, D.C. These discussions, aimed at securing economic backing for an independent Alberta, have drawn a sharp rebuke from Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Carney, facing his most significant foreign policy test, has publicly urged Washington to back down. Speaking at a press conference following a tense gathering of provincial premiers, the Prime Minister did not mince words regarding his expectations of the American leadership.

“I expect the US administration to respect Canadian sovereignty. I’m always clear in my conversations with President Trump to that effect.”

While Carney noted that discussions about separatist movements in Alberta or Quebec did not arise in his direct talks with President Trump, he aligned himself with the sentiments of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, supporting her call for non-interference in Canada’s domestic affairs.

"Treason": The Premier’s Verdict

The reaction from Canada’s western provinces has been explosive. British Columbia Premier David Eby issued a blistering condemnation of the American outreach, characterizing the collaboration between Alberta separatists and a foreign government as a betrayal of the nation.

Ahead of the premiers’ meeting in Ottawa, Eby remarked, “To go to a foreign country and to ask for assistance in breaking up Canada, there’s an old-fashioned word for that – and that word is treason.”

Eby’s outrage reflects a growing anxiety that the U.S. President is actively destabilizing his northern neighbor. He argued that while Canadians have the right to express views through referendums, seeking foreign aid to fragment the nation crosses a line, particularly from a U.S. president who has shown little regard for Canadian independence. Eby described the actions as “completely inappropriate” and urged unity against external meddling.

Alberta’s Delicate Balancing Act

At the center of this geopolitical storm is Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Caught between a federal government she often opposes and a separatist base she must manage, Smith has attempted to distance her administration from the APP’s direct negotiations with Washington.

Affirming her support for “a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada,” Smith stated, “I would expect that the US administration would respect Canadian sovereignty and that they would confine their discussion about Alberta’s democratic process to Albertans and to Canadians.”

However, Smith acknowledged the deep-seated anger driving the movement. She noted that polls suggest up to 30% of Albertans feel disillusioned, attributing this sentiment to years of federal policies under previous governments that many in the province felt targeted their energy sector. She declined to “demonise” those supporting a referendum, acknowledging their “legitimate grievances” without endorsing separation.

The $500 Billion Gamble

The controversy was ignited by a report from the Financial Times, which detailed three covert meetings between the Trump administration and separatists from Canada’s oil-rich province. The stakes of these meetings are incredibly high: the Alberta Prosperity Project is reportedly planning another meeting next month to seek a $500 billion credit facility to fund the independent province, should a referendum—yet to be announced—pass.

Jeff Rath, legal counsel for the APP, expressed confidence in the American reception. “The US is extremely enthusiastic about a free and independent Alberta,” Rath said, adding that his relationship with the Trump administration is much stronger than that of the Carney government.

While the White House has confirmed the meetings took place, framing them as routine engagements with civil society groups, an official denied offering any material support for the separatists.

The Rise of "Wexit"

The Alberta separatist movement, sometimes dubbed “Wexit” or Alberta sovereignty, was formed after longstanding grievances over federal resource policies, equalization payments, and perceived eastern dominance. The APP promotes “faith, family, and freedom” as core values, and aims for a prosperous Alberta free from Ottawa’s “overreach”.

Their key demands include low taxes, robust property rights, full resource ownership, and independence to negotiate trade deals directly. The movement gained momentum after Smith lowered the referendum threshold in 2025, allowing citizen-initiated petitions.

A current petition, led by Mitch Sylvestre and endorsed by the APP, is seeking 177,000 signatures by early May 2026 to trigger a vote on the question: “Do you agree that the province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province in Canada?”

Organizers are aiming for over one million signatures to demonstrate widespread support, and meetings and rallies are planned at various places. This is unfolding against a backdrop of strained US-Canada relations, with Trump imposing 25% tariffs on Canadian goods and repeatedly talking about annexing Canada as the 51st state. Alberta’s oil wealth makes it a strategic target. While the separatists are aiming for an independent nation, a faction among them favors joining the USA as the 51st state.

A Bitter Irony: The Khalistan Parallel

The Canadian government’s outrage over foreign interference in Alberta has drawn attention to what many observers see as a glaring historical double standard. Notably, while the Canadian government is now objecting to the Trump administration talking to Alberta separatists, the Canadian government for decades has been supporting Khalistanis who want to break India and form an independent Khalistan state.

The diplomatic fallout from this stance has been severe. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau even destroyed his country’s diplomatic relationship with India by accusing the Modi government of killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed by gunmen in June 2023 in Surrey, British Columbia.

The contrast in approach is stark. While Trump officials held talks with Albertan separatists in secret meetings, Canadian officials and ministers openly attend Khalistani events in Canada, which are regularly held. The Canadian government continues to support the Khalistanis who openly issue death threats to PM Narendra Modi, other Indian ministers and diplomats, and celebrate the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi.

After the tariff assaults of Trump, the Canadian government has realized the mistake of distancing itself from India, and has started efforts to improve trade relations. And now it is seeing the danger of foreign interference in separatist movements, as it is the target now.