Canadian PM Mark Carney said he expected the US to respect Canadian sovereignty after reports emerged that members of the Trump administration held a secret meeting with a separatist group that supports independence for Canada’s oil-rich province.
Mark Carney says Respect Canadian Sovereignty
The Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) received approval to gather signatures for a referendum aimed at making the western province an independent country. The Financial Times reported that APP leaders have met with State Department officials in Washington three times since April.
While speaking to reporters alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Carney said, “I expect the US administration to respect Canadian sovereignty. I’m always clear with President Trump to that effect.”
Is there any conflicts between USA and Canada
Meanwhile, Smith said she also “would expect that the US administration would respect Canadian sovereignty” and mentioned she would discuss any issues related to referendum interference with Washington. She reiterated her support for a “sovereign Alberta, within a united Canada,” even as she criticized former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his actions against the economy.
The reports said that US officials held at least three meetings since April 2025 with representatives of the APP, who are gathering signatures for a petition that could trigger a referendum on leaving Canada. The group is now seeking another meeting next month to propose a $500 billion credit facility aimed at financing Alberta if an independence referendum, which has yet to be officially announced, is approved.
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