In a surprising move, US Treasury Secretary Scott Benson has commented on the separatist sentiment brewing in the Canadian province of Alberta. Benson, in an interview with a right-wing American commentator, stated that Alberta is a “natural partner for the US”, citing the province’s wealth of natural resources and its independent-minded people.
Benson’s remarks come amid strained relations between the US and Canada, with the two countries engaged in ongoing trade disputes. The top US official noted the “rumour” of a potential referendum in Alberta on whether to remain part of Canada, suggesting that the US would welcome the province’s secession.
The comments have drawn a swift response from the Canadian government. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne dismissed Benson’s overtures, saying that Canada will “do our own thing” and continue to develop the country’s natural resources. Champagne pointed to a recent deal between the federal government and Alberta that paves the way for an oil pipeline to the Pacific coast, a long-standing priority for Canada’s energy heartland.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, in a statement to the BBC, reiterated her province’s support for new pipelines in all directions, including to US markets. However, she also emphasised that the “overwhelming majority of Albertans are not interested in becoming a US state.”
The separatist movement in Alberta has been gaining momentum, with a group collecting signatures for a referendum campaign. Late last year, over 430,000 signatures were gathered for a petition calling for a united Canada to counter the separatist push. Polls suggest that a majority of Albertans still want to remain part of Canada, though some organizers have travelled to Washington to meet with officials from the Trump administration.
The US-Canada relationship has been strained in recent months, with President Donald Trump taking aim at Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Trump accused Carney of being ungrateful, stating that “Canada lives because of the United States.”
As the separatist movement in Alberta continues to simmer, the involvement of the US Treasury Secretary has added a new layer of complexity to the ongoing tensions between the two North American neighbours. The situation remains fluid, with the future of Alberta’s relationship with Canada and the US still uncertain.