To the ears of one Politico reporter , this was “a U.S. cabinet secretary cheering on a split in Canada.”U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made his remarks about Alberta independence after returning from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. (AP)This Trump administration heavyweight, one could clarify, wasn’t directly musing about Alberta becoming part of the United States. Pro-separation lawyer Jeffrey Rath said he's been talking Alberta independence with Trump administration officials, and becoming part of the United States hasn't been on the table. A solo Alberta would have a “common market” with the United States and zero tariffs, he said. He suggested that Alberta separatists may be interested in independence for now, but that would only be an intermediate measure.

Source: CBC News January 25, 2026 11:34 UTC