The Premier of British Columbia had some scathing comments in regards to the Alberta separatist movement ahead of Thursday’s first ministers meeting in Ottawa.
David Eby said reported meetings between separatist leaders and U.S. Treasury officials to speak about separation amounts to “treason.”
“I understand the will to carry a referendum, to speak in regards to the issues we wish to speak about in Canada. We’ve got free speech, in order that’s necessary. But to go to a foreign country and to ask for assistance in breaking up Canada. There’s an old-fashioned word for that, and that word is treason,” said Eby, who was among the many premiers who spoke to the media ahead of their meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Eby has been at odds with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith over her desire for a brand new oil pipeline from Alberta to the northern coast of B.C.
A report in The Financial Times, citing sources aware of the talks, reports that leaders of the Alberta Prosperity Project, the group that’s spearheading the separatist movement, have already met thrice with U.S. State Department officials in Washington since April.
And one in all the leaders of the movement, Jeffrey Rath, recently said on social media that he looks forward to “meeting with US Treasury officials next month to debate our feasibility study regarding a 500 Billion USD line of credit to support the transition to a free and independent Alberta.”
Jefffrey Rath, one in all the leaders of the Alberta separatist movement, posted recently on social media, about plans to fulfill with U.S. Treasury officials.
X/@JeffreyRWRath
U.S. President Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire for Canada to turn out to be the 51st state. Last week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also appeared to throw his support behind the Alberta separatist movement when he said the province’s vast oil reserves make it “a natural partner for the U.S.”
“Albertans are very independent people,” said Bessent. “Individuals are talking. People want sovereignty. They need what the U.S. has got,” Bessent added.
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“I feel we’d like to attract the road at people searching for the help of foreign countries to interrupt up this beautiful land of ours that our forefathers, our foremothers, our parents, our grandparents fought for,” said Eby. “, there’s a line.”
Asked if he might be raising the problem with Smith through the first minister’s meeting, Eby said, “I feel that each one of us, myself, Premier Smith, every premier has a task to play to say that that is unacceptable conduct.”
The problem also drew the ire of Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who called the reported meetings between Alberta separatists and U.S. officials “unacceptable” and “unethical.”
“Going behind Canada’s back and negotiating is unacceptable. We’re one country and we should always all be sticking together,” said Ford. “Everyone knows where President Trump stands. He wants Canada, and that’s not going to occur.”
Ford also called on his Alberta counterpart to talk out against the meetings between the separatists and the Americans.
“That is a chance for Premier Smith to rise up and say enough is enough,” said Ford. “Either you’re with Canada, otherwise you’re not with Canada. I’m with Canada right across the board.”
“We should be united, a united Canada. I’ve all the time said, united we stand, divided we fall,” Ford added.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks with reporters before the First Ministers Meeting in Ottawa, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Smith, who has been accused by opponents of courting the separatists, has up to now not publicly denounced the movement, as a substitute saying she would like to see a robust and sovereign Alberta inside a united Canada, to which Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has responded by calling it “word salad.”
Following the primary ministers meeting in Ottawa on Thursday, each Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney were asked for his or her response to Eby’s comments.
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Smith responded by saying “While you have a look at the polls, they suggest as many as 30 per cent of Albertans have lost hope. That’s about one million people. I’m not going to demonize or marginalize one million of my fellow residents after they’ve got legitimate grievances. We’d like to offer Albertans hope. We’d like to point out them, not only tell them — not only words, but with actions — that Canada can work.”
As for reports that supporters of the Alberta sovereignty movement have been meeting with American officials, Smith said, “I’d expect that the U.S. administration would respect Canadian sovereignty and that they’d confine their discussion about Alberta’s democratic process to Albertans and to Canadians.”
“I’ll raise that with my delegate in Washington so he can raise it with members of the administration and I’ll raise it with my delegate in Ottawa so he can raise it with the U.S. ambassador,” Smith added.
While Carney said he hasn’t discussed the concept of Alberta’s or Quebec’s separation with President Trump, he did say, “I expect the U.S. administration to respect Canadian sovereignty.”
Despite the reports of the meetings between Alberta separatists and American officials, up to now, the leaders of the Alberta Prosperity Project have said they don’t think anyone within the movement wants to hitch the U.S.
The group has been holding meetings across the province to assemble signatures on a petition demanding the Smith government hold a referendum on separation.
An Ipsos poll, released earlier this week, said roughly 29 per cent of Albertans would vote to separate from Canada, but only half that number would support separation when faced with the prices and consequences of doing so.
— With files from The Canadian Press
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