Alberta premier says ‘ridiculous’ for separatists to offer royalties, water to Americans
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has criticized separatist groups for allegedly offering provincial resources like water and oil to U.S. officials during meetings in Washington. Separatist leaders have denied these claims, while the province prepares for a referendum on its future within Canada.
Why it matters
The story touches on sensitive issues of provincial sovereignty, foreign influence, and the political stability of the Canadian federation.
The information was reported by the Globe and Mail on Saturday. CBC News has not independently confirmed the details in the story.
Alberta separatists met three times with U.S. State Department officials in Washington in late 2025.
“I think it's absurd that anybody would offer something like that up that's not theirs to offer,” Smith said at an unrelated news conference in Edmonton Wednesday.
“It's a decision that Albertans would make, and I don't think Albertans would support it.”
The Washington meetings were already public knowledge, but what was offered to U.S. officials was new information.
Past Alberta separatist meetings in U.S. don't fall under foreign influence registry: watchdog
According to the Globe and Mail, Dennis Modry, co-founder of the pro-independence Alberta Prosperity Project (APP), told the media outlet about the offer that was made.
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