EDMONTON — A leader of Alberta's separatist movement says some members of Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party caucus have signed the petition looking to force a vote on the province quitting Canada.

There’s an acute awareness and sensitivity at the Conservative Party convention to the political issue of separatism. It's now at the centre of Alberta politics, particularly within conservative circles.

Canadian PM Carney expects US respect for sovereignty, following reports of State Department officials meeting with separatists from Alberta, the oil-rich western province. Bessent last week referred to Alberta as “a natural partner for the US”.

Political scientist Duane Bratt sees Smith’s rhetoric as designed to appeal to the United Conservative Party, separatists and federalists. This strategy has allowed separatist leaders to publicly claim her support, while others accuse Smith of deliberately blurring her position.

British Columbia Premier David Eby says Alberta separatists meeting with the U.S. administration and seeking financial backing is an act of "treason," as the issue of national sovereignty loomed over a meeting between the premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday.

Alberta's 9,000 unionized provincial employees are going back to the office full time starting this weekend, but not without a brown bag protest.

Trump officials have secretly met separatists demanding oil-rich Alberta's independence from Canada three times since April 2025. Alberta Prosperity P.