OTTAWA—U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said the United States is not holding strategic meetings with Alberta separatists or discussing financial backing for a potential independent Alberta, directly rejecting claims made by leaders of the province's separatist movement ahead of a proposed referendum.
Speaking in an interview broadcast on Sunday, Hoekstra said the administration had not been coordinating with separatist organizers. “No, we’re not meeting with the separatists and strategizing this at all,” he said when asked about assertions that U.S. officials had been working with the movement. He also said he was unaware of any discussions involving a reported US$500 billion line of credit for an independent Alberta.
The ambassador's comments contradicted public statements by Jeffery Rath, leader of the Alberta Prosperity Project, who has said his organization met with American officials, including representatives from the U.S. Treasury, to discuss possible financial support should Alberta become independent. The group has also maintained that its representatives met U.S. State Department officials in Washington on multiple occasions, claims that have drawn widespread political attention in Canada.
Asked whether Washington preferred Alberta to remain part of Canada, Hoekstra declined to state a position, saying such decisions rested with U.S. President Donald Trump. He added that the United States intended to remain neutral regarding any future provincial vote.
The issue has become increasingly sensitive as Alberta's separatist movement campaigns for a referendum on the province's future. While organizers argue Alberta should have greater control over its political and economic affairs, opinion polling and political analysts have continued to indicate that support for outright independence remains a minority position among Albertans.
The movement has also faced heightened scrutiny over contacts with U.S. officials, allegations of foreign influence and legal challenges surrounding the proposed referendum process. Canadian officials have emphasized that any move toward secession would face significant constitutional and legal hurdles, while Indigenous leaders have argued that treaty rights must be respected in any discussion affecting Alberta's status within Canada.
Former Canadian ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman said separately that, to her knowledge, influential figures in Washington had shown little interest in intervening in what she described as Canada's domestic political debate. She said foreign interference in the issue was not a major concern based on the information available when she left her diplomatic post earlier this year.
