Alberta Separatists Say U.S. Officials Discussed Sovereignty Plans
Separatist leaders say three staff-level meetings with State and Treasury covered currency conversion and a $500 billion credit request.
Overview
Dennis Modry, a co-founder, and attorney Jeffrey Rath said they met State and Treasury staff on April 22, Sept. 29 and Dec. 16 to discuss Alberta sovereignty and a $500 billion credit line, Modry said.
The meetings coincide with a petition drive that must collect 178,000 signatures by May to trigger a citizen-led referendum on Alberta separation, the Alberta Prosperity Project said.
A senior State Department official said the meetings were staff-level with no principals involved and that "there will not be another meeting," while Treasury and White House officials said no commitments were made.
An Ipsos poll in January found 28% of Albertans would vote yes on secession, with a margin of error of 5.4 percentage points, the poll said.
The Alberta Prosperity Project plans a tentative fourth meeting in Washington in coming weeks and said a successful petition could place a referendum on the October ballot, the group said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as an alarming, unusual U.S. engagement with fringe Canadian separatists by using loaded descriptors ('right-wing separatist', 'Texas of Canada'), foregrounding anonymous diplomats' harsh criticism ('irresponsible as hell'), and juxtaposing separatists' claims with official denials — emphasizing national-security and sovereignty implications.
Sources (3)
FAQ
A February 2026 Angus Reid Institute poll of 979 Albertans found 29% would vote to separate from Canada, with only 8% definitely voting yes and 21% leaning yes; support has not significantly increased.
The petition needs approximately 177,000-178,000 validated signatures by May 2, 2026, including 10% from eligible voters in the last provincial election, to trigger a citizen-led referendum.
State Department confirmed staff-level meetings with no principals involved and stated there will not be another meeting; Treasury and White House officials said no commitments were made.[3]
Alberta separation would be illegal per Canadian constitutional law and Supreme Court precedents like the Secession Reference, which requires negotiated amendments, not just a referendum.[4]
History
This story does not have any previous versions.