US Officials Meet Alberta Separatists, Deny Commitments
15th February 2026
Alberta separatists are ramping up a petition drive to trigger an independence referendum, while President Donald Trump’s administration and allies draw scrutiny for contacts with the movement, but recent polling shows most Albertans still oppose leaving Canada.
The Alberta Prosperity Project, a separatist-aligned group, aims to collect by May 2 about 177,000 signatures, or 10% of Alberta’s registered voters — the threshold to launch a citizen-led referendum on separation.
Organizers and supporters told Reuters they want an independent Alberta, not U.S. statehood, even as some expressed admiration for Trump.