Senior officials in the Trump administration have held covert meetings with fringe separatist figures from Alberta, Canada’s oil-rich western province, according to an exclusive report.
The report said representatives of the Alberta Prosperity Project, which advocates for the province’s independence from Canada, met with U.S. officials in Washington several times over the past year as political and diplomatic tensions grew between Ottawa and Washington.
The group is reportedly seeking financial and political backing from the United States ahead of any future push for an independence referendum, though U.S. officials cited in the report said no commitments were made and described the contacts as routine engagement.
The revelation has triggered concern in Canada, where officials view the meetings as interference in domestic affairs.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he expects the United States to respect Canada’s sovereignty, while several provincial leaders condemned the reported outreach.
The development comes amid broader strains in U.S.–Canada relations over trade, energy policy and diplomatic posture.