Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent publicly raised the prospect of an Alberta independence referendum while criticizing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, comments that came as President Trump and Carney exchanged barbs at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Organizers in Alberta must collect 178,000 signatures by May 2 to force a referendum, which would obligate the federal government to negotiate if successful. Global Affairs Canada did not immediately respond to Bessent’s remarks, and the episode has intensified an already fraught U.S.–Canada dialogue.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Stokes Alberta Secession Talk Amid Trump–Carney Rift
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent intensified tensions between Washington and Ottawa this week by publicly raising the possibility of an independence vote in Alberta — comments made as President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney traded sharp words at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
What Bessent Said
Speaking to conservative podcaster Jack Posobiec, Bessent said, "Alberta is a natural partner for the U.S. They have great resources. The Albertans are very independent people. Rumor that they may have a referendum on whether they want to stay in Canada or not." His remarks were widely interpreted as sympathetic to the idea of Alberta pursuing greater autonomy or even separation from Canada.
The Push For A Referendum
The drive for an Alberta referendum is a tangible political movement: organizers must gather 178,000 valid signatures by May 2 to trigger a vote on independence. If a ballot were held and produced a mandate for separation, the federal government would be expected to negotiate in good faith over any proposed departure.
Diplomatic Fallout
A U.S. Cabinet member appearing to encourage a split in a close ally is an unusual escalation. Conservative influencers in the United States have amplified talk that Alberta could eventually seek closer ties with the U.S., while Prime Minister Carney and members of his Liberal caucus have treated the development as a political threat.
Global Affairs Canada did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Bessent's remarks.
Broader Context: Davos Exchanges
The comments came amid a string of public clashes between Trump and Carney in Davos. After Carney warned of a "rupture" in the world order caused by great powers, Trump retorted on Wednesday that "Canada lives because of the United States," and later removed Carney from his new Board of Peace initiative. In Quebec City on Thursday, the prime minister replied, "Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian."
Why It Matters: A senior U.S. official appearing to endorse separatist sentiment in a friendly country risks deepening diplomatic strains and feeding domestic political debates in Canada about national unity and foreign influence.
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