Politics Trump officials met group pushing Alberta independence from Canada

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Trump officials met group pushing Alberta independence from Canada​

Separatists from oil-rich province try to capitalise on friction between White House and Mark Carney

The Trump administration has held covert meetings with fringe separatists from Canada’s oil-rich province of Alberta as a rift deepens between Washington and Ottawa.Leaders of the Alberta Prosperity Project, a group of far-right separatists who want the western province to become independent, met US state department officials in Washington three times since April last year, according to people familiar with the talks.

They are seeking another meeting next month with state and Treasury officials to ask for a $500bn credit facility to help bankroll the province if an independence referendum — yet to be called — is passed.“The US is extremely enthusiastic about a free and independent Alberta,” Jeff Rath, APP legal counsel, who attended the meetings, told the FT.

He claimed he had a “much stronger relationship” with the Trump administration than Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

A state department spokesperson said: “The department regularly meets with civil society types. As is typical in routine meetings such as these, no commitments were made.”

https://www.ft.com/content/11dc2140-6a5d-4536-b766-52c920affcc7