It seems like only yesterday, that President Trump and his cabal of cabinet enablers, had a hissy fit and cancelled trade negotiations with Canada. This followed the release of a TV commercial that quoted Ronald Reagan’s thoughts on trade tariffs. Trump was outraged that Canada was “interfering in U.S. domestic affairs.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has provided proof that the Trump Administration does not see any problem when the shoe is on the other foot. Bessent recently publicly sided with those organizing a separatist movement in the province of Alberta.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent commented Thursday on the separatist movement in Alberta — making him the highest-ranking member of the Trump administration to weigh in on the province’s politics.
While appearing on the right-wing TV station Real America’s Voice, Bessent claimed Canada won’t let Alberta build a pipeline to the Pacific.
“I think we should let them come down into the U.S., and Alberta’s a natural partner for the U.S.,” he said.
“They have great resources. The Albertans are very independent people,” Bessent said, adding there’s a “rumour that they may have a referendum on whether they want to stay in Canada or not.”
When asked if he knew something about it, Bessent said, “People are talking. People want sovereignty. They want what the U.S. has got.”
Source: CBC News
There have always been concerns with whether the hard right in Canada, (including those behind the “convoy” movement) and increasingly Alberta separatists, receive organizational or financial support from the U.S. via one or more of the many right-wing PACs and similar organizations. And, with the background of the 51st State rhetoric that Trump has used and encourages, support from senior cabinet-level U.S. figures for Alberta separatism is yet another concern.
I hope Ottawa calls in the U.S. Ambassador to Canada (Pete Hegseth) to tell him in no uncertain terms that in the run-up to a possible referendum in Alberta, we will not allow such foreign interference in our sovereignty. This is the guy who has repeatedly said that he can’t understand, and is angry, that Canadians are turning their backs on the travel to the U.S. And the same guy who has supported Trump’s statement that the U.S. doesn’t need anything from Canada. I think a bit of a reminder is in order.
And I hope that Bessent himself hears about from Canadian officials.
Even some Canadian Conservatives are becoming sensitive to the issue.
But Bessent is not the only one getting in on the act.
CBC News reports that Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee made a sharp rhetorical turn northwest.
“I think the people of Alberta would agree with the sentiment that they would prefer not to be part of Canada and to be part of the United States because we are winning day in and day out,” Ogles said.
Source: CBC News
As the CBC article notes, this kind of support may, in the end, turn out not to be helpful to the separatists.
Certainly I don’t think many Canadians would be convinced that what we are witnessing in the U.S. now (tariff policies that make living more expensive; the administration of “near” Gestapo tactics by heavily armed, and anonymous thugs in the employ of ICE, and a foreign policy that has turned on allies) is “winning”.
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