U.S. Treasury Secretary Says Alberta Is 'Natural Partner' Amid Separatist Push

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Jan. 23 in a Real America's Voice interview with host Jack Posobiec that "Alberta is a natural partner" and urged allowing pipelines into the United States.

Records show a petition must gather 178,000 signatures by May to trigger a referendum on Alberta separation, a campaign led by Mitch Sylvestre that organizers said seeks independence rather than U.S. statehood.

Federal Finance Minister François‑Philippe Champagne said he would tell Bessent "thanks but no thanks, we will do our own things," and a spokesman for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said the province supports pipelines to U.S. markets while rejecting U.S. statehood.

Alberta has about 5 million residents and a late‑2024 counter‑petition gathered more than 430,000 signatures, records show, underscoring the scale of public interest in the province's future.

Trade talks between the United States and Canada remain on ice, organizers have traveled to Washington to meet U.S. officials, and the May signature deadline will determine whether a referendum proceeds, organizers and officials said.