Canada's separatist movement has been embroiled in controversy after secret talks with the US state department were made public. Premier David Eby of British Columbia accused the separatists of attempting to commit "treason" by seeking foreign assistance to break up Canada.
The allegations center around far-right activists who have been secretly meeting with high-ranking officials from Donald Trump's administration, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The separatists claim that they are seeking a $500 billion credit facility from the US treasury to fund their bid for independence, which is currently being pursued through a referendum in Alberta.
Eby described the efforts as "completely inappropriate" and stated that it was "an old-fashioned word for that β treason." He also criticized the involvement of President Trump, who has not been particularly respectful of Canada's sovereignty. The premier warned that if foreign influence was allowed to sway the outcome of the referendum, it could be seen as a threat to Canadian democracy.
The separatist movement has gained momentum in recent months, with organizers collecting nearly 178,000 signatures to trigger the referendum. However, many have raised concerns about the potential for outside interference and the use of disinformation campaigns to sway public opinion.
Experts warn that if left unchecked, these efforts could lead to a destabilization of Canadian society. Conflict researcher Thomas Homer-Dixon described the situation as a "fifth column" approach by separatists, working with outside forces to destabilize Canada. He warned that if the referendum were to fail, Trump could argue that the results were "fake" and take action to allow Alberta to join the US as the 51st state.
The controversy has sparked mounting criticism of Premier Danielle Smith's government in Alberta, which has been accused of making it too easy for residents to petition for a referendum. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has also called on Smith to take a stronger stance against the separatists and reject their claims of foreign assistance.
The allegations center around far-right activists who have been secretly meeting with high-ranking officials from Donald Trump's administration, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The separatists claim that they are seeking a $500 billion credit facility from the US treasury to fund their bid for independence, which is currently being pursued through a referendum in Alberta.
Eby described the efforts as "completely inappropriate" and stated that it was "an old-fashioned word for that β treason." He also criticized the involvement of President Trump, who has not been particularly respectful of Canada's sovereignty. The premier warned that if foreign influence was allowed to sway the outcome of the referendum, it could be seen as a threat to Canadian democracy.
The separatist movement has gained momentum in recent months, with organizers collecting nearly 178,000 signatures to trigger the referendum. However, many have raised concerns about the potential for outside interference and the use of disinformation campaigns to sway public opinion.
Experts warn that if left unchecked, these efforts could lead to a destabilization of Canadian society. Conflict researcher Thomas Homer-Dixon described the situation as a "fifth column" approach by separatists, working with outside forces to destabilize Canada. He warned that if the referendum were to fail, Trump could argue that the results were "fake" and take action to allow Alberta to join the US as the 51st state.
The controversy has sparked mounting criticism of Premier Danielle Smith's government in Alberta, which has been accused of making it too easy for residents to petition for a referendum. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has also called on Smith to take a stronger stance against the separatists and reject their claims of foreign assistance.