U.S. ambassador denies Trump administration met with Alberta separatists
Pete Hoekstra rejected claims by Alberta Prosperity Project that his government discussed a potential $500-billion line of credit for an independent Alberta.
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U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra says the Trump administration has not met with Alberta separatists or discussed potential financial support for an independent Alberta, directly contradicting public claims made by separatist leaders.
"No, we're not meeting with the separatists and strategizing this at all," Hoekstra said in a recent interview. The comments contradict a Financial Times report citing sources familiar with the talks, which said leaders of the Alberta Prosperity Project met three times with U.S. State Department officials in Washington since April.
Alberta Prosperity Project leader Jeffery Rath has publicly stated his organization met with American officials, including a meeting with U.S. Treasury officials to discuss a potential $500-billion line of credit for an independent Alberta. When asked about conversations regarding such a line of credit, Hoekstra said "no, not that I know of."
Hoekstra dismissed the separatists' claims, saying "separatists can say whatever they want." Asked whether the Trump administration wants Alberta to remain part of Canada, the ambassador declined to give a definitive answer.
"That's the president's call," he said. "I think at this point in time, we've made it very clear we are not going to take a position on that. That's a decision that has to be made by the people of Alberta, the province of Alberta, and the federal government."
The stance differs sharply from 1995, when then-U.S. President Bill Clinton called for a united Canada during the Quebec referendum campaign. "Canada has stood for all of us as a model of how people of different cultures can live and work together in peace, prosperity and respect," Clinton said in a speech to the House of Commons.
Hoekstra anticipates the Trump administration will not get involved in Alberta's reported fall referendum. "I'm not going to get a directive from the President of the United States or our Secretary of State Marco Rubio that says 'Pete, go out there and advocate for secession or for the people of Alberta to vote to stay as part of the Confederation.'" Several Canadian premiers had criticized U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent after he said in January that Alberta is a "natural partner for the U.S."
