Conservative MP warns against US-backed Alberta separatist talks
Conservative MP Dane Lloyd said he is uneasy about reports that Alberta separatists are seeking U.S. support by offering water and oil, and he rejected any promise to hand over the province’s resources.
Dane Lloyd, a Conservative MP tasked with persuading Albertans to remain in Canada, voiced alarm over reports that separatist activists have gone to Washington to offer Alberta’s fresh water and oil in exchange for U.S. support. He asserted that no individual can promise away the province’s natural resources and refused to condone any revenue flowing to a foreign government. Speaking before a House of Commons committee, Lloyd avoided speculating on whether the actions constitute foreign interference or how they should be investigated.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree deferred further comment to CSIS. Alberta’s electorate will decide on Oct. 19 whether to hold a binding referendum on legal separation, while Premier Danielle Smith has pledged to vote against it. Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas criticized the separatists for seeking U.S. assistance, saying it undermines Alberta’s sovereignty.
Why it matters
The story highlights potential foreign influence in a provincial secession debate that could affect Canada’s territorial integrity.
How this story developed
- Oct 1 Canada designates West Coast oil pipeline as first national-interest project, fast-tracking approvals
- Oct 3 Indigenous communities were allotted a two‑month period to consult on the pipeline’s national‑interest designation.
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