B.C. premier calls Alberta separatists’ outreach to U.S. officials ‘treasonous’

British Columbia Premier David Eby says Alberta separatists who have reportedly sought financial backing from the United States are committing what he described as an act of “treason,” and he plans to raise the issue as Canada’s premiers meet with the prime minister in Ottawa on Thursday.

“To go to a foreign country and ask for assistance in breaking up Canada — there’s an old-fashioned word for that, and that word is treason,” Eby said ahead of the closed-door meeting.

Eby was responding to reports that members of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration have held discussions with representatives of the Alberta Prosperity Project, a group advocating for Alberta to become an independent country.

The organization has publicly stated it is seeking a US$500-billion line of credit from the U.S. Treasury to help finance a new nation should a referendum on Alberta independence succeed.

Eby said while Canadians have the democratic right to debate constitutional questions and vote in referendums, seeking assistance from a foreign government goes too far.

“It is completely inappropriate to ask a foreign power — particularly one whose president has shown little respect for Canada’s sovereignty — to help break up this country,” he said, adding that Alberta separating would geographically isolate British Columbia from the rest of Canada.

“I think we need to draw a clear line at people seeking foreign help to dismantle this beautiful land of ours.”

Other premiers weighed in as well. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew joked that the situation almost made him want to call a referendum of his own.

“In Manitoba, the question would be: ‘Do you want to stay part of Canada?’ And the answers would be ‘yeah’ and ‘heck yeah,’” he said.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to publicly shut down the separatist push.

“Enough is enough,” Ford said, calling on Smith to take a firmer stance.

Smith has said she supports “a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada,” though critics note her government lowered the threshold last year for citizen-led petitions, making it easier to trigger a referendum on independence.

Separatist organizers are currently collecting signatures across Alberta, aiming to reach nearly 178,000 supporters within a set time frame to force a province-wide vote.

The movement has also drawn encouragement from U.S. political figures. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently praised Alberta’s resources and suggested “people want sovereignty.” Republican Congressman Andy Ogles went further, saying Albertans might prefer to join the United States.

Despite the attention, polling suggests separatism remains a minority view in Alberta. A survey released earlier this month found roughly one in five respondents would vote to leave Canada.

Eby said the issue reflects broader tensions within the federation, but warned that foreign involvement represents a dangerous escalation.

“Debate is one thing,” he said. “Inviting another country to interfere in Canada’s unity is something else entirely.”