A geopolitical tremor is quietly building in North America, and at its center lies a startling revelation: a group of Canadian separatists advocating for the oil-rich province of Alberta to break away from Canada have reportedly held a series of private meetings with officials from the United States government. The development, first reported by international outlets including the Financial Times and NBC News, has ignited political outrage in Canada, stirred debate in Washington, and intensified already fragile tensions between the two longtime allies. Now, as details continue to emerge, DDM NEWS examines the explosive implications of a movement seeking not just independence, but potential alignment with the United States.
The group behind the initiative calls itself the Alberta Prosperity Project, a separatist organization that has long argued that Alberta — often nicknamed the “Texas of Canada” because of its vast energy reserves and conservative political leanings — would thrive as a sovereign nation free from what it describes as federal overreach from Ottawa. What elevates this latest chapter beyond routine separatist rhetoric, however, is the group’s admission that it has engaged in at least three meetings with officials from the U.S. Departments of State and Treasury to discuss the mechanics of Alberta potentially separating from Canada.
According to reports cited by DDM NEWS, discussions in those meetings allegedly included practical considerations such as transitioning to the U.S. dollar, restructuring trade agreements, and even establishing a new defense structure should Alberta become an independent country. A fourth meeting is reportedly being planned to explore further transitional frameworks in the event that a legally binding referendum produces a majority vote in favor of independence. While U.S. officials have downplayed the significance of the meetings, describing them as involving lower-level staff and yielding no commitments, the mere fact that such talks occurred has sent shockwaves through Canadian political circles.
Dennis Modry, co-founder of the Alberta Prosperity Project, has publicly characterized the conversations as encouraging. He claimed that U.S. representatives signaled broad support for Alberta becoming a sovereign state. Meanwhile, the group’s legal counsel, Jeff Rath, was quoted in international media as saying that the United States appeared “extremely enthusiastic about a free and independent Alberta.” These remarks have only intensified scrutiny, as critics argue that such discussions tread dangerously close to interference in Canadian domestic affairs.
The backlash within Canada has been swift and fierce. Polling released this week indicates that a majority of Canadians view the separatists’ negotiations with Washington as tantamount to treason. Political commentators have described the move as unprecedented in modern Canadian history — a scenario in which a domestic separatist movement seeks strategic backing from a foreign government, particularly one that has recently demonstrated assertive geopolitical ambitions under President Donald Trump.
The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of heightened diplomatic tension between Washington and Ottawa. During an address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney warned of what he described as a “rupture” in the global order, widely interpreted as criticism of President Trump’s trade and foreign policy positions. Although Carney did not mention Trump by name, the reference was unmistakable in the context of ongoing disputes over tariffs, trade balances, and border policies.
President Trump has repeatedly floated the provocative idea that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, a notion he has framed as mutually beneficial due to Canada’s vast natural resources and geographic proximity. In 2025, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged that Trump’s comments about absorbing Canada were not merely rhetorical but reflective of genuine strategic interest. Trudeau stated publicly that the United States was acutely aware of Canada’s resource wealth and that Trump viewed absorption as a means of gaining easier access to those assets.
These remarks have fueled suspicions among Canadian observers that Alberta’s separatist overtures to Washington may be exploiting — or being exploited by — broader geopolitical ambitions. Critics argue that any encouragement from U.S. officials could embolden separatist actors and destabilize Canada’s constitutional framework. Former U.S. diplomats, speaking anonymously to American media, have sharply criticized the meetings, calling them “irresponsible” and warning that engagement with separatist groups risks undermining a critical bilateral alliance.
For Alberta, the stakes are enormous. The province accounts for a significant portion of Canada’s oil and gas production and has long harbored grievances over federal environmental regulations, equalization payments, and national energy policies. Separatist sentiment in Alberta has historically surged during periods of economic strain or political friction with Ottawa. However, it has never before advanced to the level of reported engagement with foreign government officials about sovereign transition plans.
DDM NEWS analysis suggests that the Alberta Prosperity Project is attempting to capitalize on the convergence of domestic frustration and international tension. By positioning Alberta as economically self-sufficient and ideologically aligned with conservative U.S. leadership, the group hopes to frame secession not as radical fragmentation but as pragmatic realignment. The proposal to adopt the U.S. dollar and create a new military force underscores how far their ambitions extend beyond symbolic protest.
Nevertheless, constitutional barriers loom large. Under Canadian law, provincial secession would require complex negotiations with the federal government and likely face significant legal challenges. A referendum alone would not automatically confer independence. Furthermore, international recognition — including from the United States — would be critical to any successful transition. The suggestion that U.S. officials may have entertained discussions about such recognition, even informally, is precisely what has unsettled policymakers in Ottawa.
Prime Minister Carney has reiterated his expectation that the United States respect Canadian sovereignty and refrain from actions that could be perceived as interference. In diplomatic language, he underscored the importance of maintaining the integrity of the bilateral relationship — one built over decades of trade cooperation, security collaboration, and shared defense commitments through NATO and NORAD.
Despite official assurances from Washington that no further meetings are anticipated, the episode has already had tangible political consequences. It has energized nationalist sentiment across Canada and deepened ideological divides within Alberta itself. While separatist leaders portray themselves as champions of economic autonomy, critics accuse them of jeopardizing national unity at a time when geopolitical stability is increasingly fragile.
For observers around the world, the unfolding saga raises profound questions about sovereignty in an era of populist politics and shifting alliances. Can a provincial separatist movement legitimately seek backing from a neighboring superpower without triggering diplomatic crisis? And if Alberta were to hold a referendum that favored independence, how would the United States balance strategic interest with respect for international norms?
As DDM NEWS continues to monitor developments, one thing is clear: what began as regional discontent has escalated into a geopolitical flashpoint. Whether the Alberta Prosperity Project’s ambitions remain symbolic or evolve into a constitutional confrontation, the conversations already held have irrevocably altered the political landscape. In an age where borders, alliances, and power structures are increasingly contested, Alberta’s secessionist gambit stands as a dramatic reminder that sovereignty is never merely local — it is always global.
