U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s remarks were in response to a question about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s World Economic Forum speech.Markus Schreiber/The Associated Press
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday goaded Prime Minister Mark Carney and directly referenced Alberta’s potential independence referendum, calling the Western province “a natural partner for the U.S.”
Mr. Bessent’s comments, made in a Thursday interview with American right-wing media personality Jack Posobiec, make him the highest-profile member of the Trump administration to weigh in on Alberta’s potential independence vote – and adds to the steady drumbeat of allies of U.S. President Donald Trump who appear to be watching the campaign.
“Alberta has a wealth of natural resources, but they won’t let them build a pipeline to the Pacific,” Mr. Bessent said.
“I think we should let them come down into the U.S., and Alberta is a natural partner for the U.S. They have great resources; the Albertans are very independent people. [There’s a] rumour that they may have a referendum on whether they want to stay in Canada or not … people are talking.”
Mr. Bessent’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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A referendum on Alberta independence will happen later this year if a group of residents can collect the nearly 178,000 signatures required to force a vote on the issue. That group, Stay Free Alberta, has until early May to gather support for the vote.
Sam Blackett, spokesperson for Premier Danielle Smith, said Alberta wants to build more pipeline capacity in all directions, including to U.S. markets.
“But the Premier also believes the overwhelming majority of Albertans are not interested in becoming a U.S. state,” Mr. Blackett wrote.
Separatist leader Jeffrey Rath, lawyer with the Alberta Prosperity Project, said Mr. Bessent’s remarks signal support for a province independent of the United States and Canada, and that its southern neighbour would welcome pipeline access to the Pacific coast. Mr. Rath said he and his colleagues are organizing a February meeting with the Treasury Department but he would not provide specifics.
Mr. Bessent’s comments were in response to a question about Mr. Carney’s much-celebrated Tuesday speech at the World Economic Forum in which he identified a “rupture” in the world order and publicly condemned economic coercion.
The Treasury Secretary derided Mr. Carney’s background as a central bank governor and said he’s a “globalist” who doesn’t want to use Canada’s vast natural resources.
President Trump on Monday, in his bid to take control of Greenland, posted an edited image of himself in the Oval Office with the American flag superimposed over a map of Canada, Greenland and Venezuela.
Earlier this week, Republican Congressman Andy Ogles also added to the fire, saying Albertans appear to want to secede from Canada.