A movement seeking separation from the Canadian province of Alberta is reportedly gaining momentum. Leaders of the Alberta Prosperity Project have secured a meeting with U.S. Treasury Department officials, where they intend to request a $500 billion U.S. Line of credit to facilitate Alberta’s potential transition into a U.S. State.
Alberta’s Separation Movement
The Alberta Prosperity Project, spearheaded by businessman Mitch Sylvestre, has launched a petition campaign called Stay Free Alberta to garner support for a referendum on separation from Canada. The group currently lacks official backing from any elected parties within Alberta.
The Alberta Prosperity Project’s platform centers around “faith, family, and freedom” and proposes a new constitution for Albertans that would enshrine “the Supremacy of God as foundational to Civil Society and the Rule of Law.”
Unlike Quebec, where separatist political parties hold elected office, Alberta’s separatist movement has no formal representation in provincial politics. Quebec has held two referenda on separation, in 1980 and 1995, with the 1995 vote narrowly failing. The Parti Québécois is expected to form the next provincial government and has promised a referendum during its first term.
Political Maneuvering and U.S. Engagement
While officially maintaining a desire for Alberta to remain within Canada, Premier Danielle Smith of the United Conservative Party (UCP) has used the idea of sovereignty to advance policies favored by her government, particularly concerning oil and gas. On February 4, Smith issued a letter demanding greater Alberta representation in judicial appointments, questioning the number of Supreme Court justices from Quebec.
Smith has stated she does not “police” the actions of her caucus members, after reports surfaced that some had signed the pro-separation petition. The UCP passed the Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act in 2022, allowing the province to challenge federal laws it deems an overreach of jurisdiction. The UCP also lowered the signature threshold and extended the timeframe for collecting signatures needed to trigger a referendum; separatists would need almost 178,000 signatures by May.
According to Jeremy Appel, author of a forthcoming book about Smith, a sovereignty movement in Alberta dates back to the province’s entry into Canada in 1905, initially focused on maintaining provincial control over its resources. He suggests the current movement is fueled by discontent with neoliberalism, displaced onto perceived issues in Ottawa and Montreal.
Support for sovereignty in Alberta appears to be rising, but opposition exists. Former Progressive Conservative representative Thomas Lukaszuk has filed a petition to remain part of Canada, collecting 438,568 signatures as of December 1, 2025.
International Implications
The Financial Times reports that leaders of the Alberta Prosperity Project have met with U.S. State Department officials at least three times. Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated he expects the U.S. Administration to respect Canadian sovereignty.
Premier Smith herself traveled to Mar-a-Lago in January 2025, prior to Donald Trump’s inauguration. Smith’s Chief of Staff, Rob Anderson, is a former member of the Alberta legislative assembly and a separatist who studied at Brigham Young University in Utah. Anderson has publicly attributed the current secession movement to Albertans’ dissatisfaction with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
British Columbia Premier David Eby characterized seeking support from a foreign government to break up Canada as “the definition of treason.”
Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to Canada as the “51st state,” and this movement could potentially offer him a pathway to that outcome. With the U.S. Already involved in Venezuela regarding oil reserves, Alberta’s oil and gas deposits could present a similar opportunity.
Canada and the United States share a deeply intertwined energy market. In 2023, 21 percent of Canadian hydrocarbon exports, worth $163 billion Canadian dollars, went to the U.S. Canada supplies nearly 60 percent of the crude oil and almost 100 percent of the natural gas imported by the United States.
Alberta produces approximately 84 percent of Canada’s crude oil and is heavily reliant on the U.S. Market for its oil exports.
First Nations leaders have voiced opposition to the Alberta sovereignty movement, asserting that their treaties are with the imperial crown, not the province of Alberta. Trevor Mercredi, grand chief of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta, and Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation have called for international support and an end to foreign interference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Alberta Prosperity Project seeking to achieve?
The Alberta Prosperity Project is seeking to separate Alberta from Canada and transition it into a U.S. State, requesting a $500 billion U.S. Line of credit to facilitate this process.
What is the position of the Alberta government on sovereignty?
Officially, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she wants Alberta to remain in Canada. However, the idea of sovereignty has been used by the UCP to try to push forward policies that the government of Alberta supports.
What is the historical context of the sovereignty movement in Alberta?
According to Jeremy Appel, a sovereignty movement in Alberta has existed since the province joined Canada in 1905, initially focused on maintaining provincial control over its resources.
Given the ongoing discussions and potential for a referendum, what role will the citizens of Alberta ultimately play in determining the province’s future?
