Alberta premier says ‘ridiculous’ for separatists to offer royalties, water to Americans

Premier Danielle Smith says it was “absurd” and “ridiculous” for prominent separatists to offer the United States government access to fresh water and resource royalties in return for its help establishing an independent Alberta. 

The information was reported by the Globe and Mail on Saturday. CBC News has not independently confirmed the details in the story. 

Alberta separatists met three times with U.S. State Department officials in Washington in late 2025. 

“I think it’s absurd that anybody would offer something like that up that’s not theirs to offer,” Smith said at an unrelated news conference in Edmonton Wednesday. 

“It’s a decision that Albertans would make, and I don’t think Albertans would support it.” 

The Washington meetings were already public knowledge, but what was offered to U.S. officials was new information. 

According to the Globe and Mail, Dennis Modry, co-founder of the Alberta Prosperity Project, told the media outlet about the offer that was made. 

Jeff Rath, a lawyer with the separatist movement, denied to the Globe and Mail that any of those matters were discussed. 

Smith has been criticized for including a question on Alberta’s Oct. 19 referendum about whether the province should remain in Canada or if it should start the legal process for a binding future referendum that would provide a definitive answer on Alberta’s fate within Confederation. 

Smith didn’t answer a question Wednesday about whether she believes she has encouraged U.S. involvement in the political situation by asking the question. 

Instead she said she believes the people that were involved in the meetings are critics of hers because she plans to vote to stay in Canada. 

“We expect that the American administration will deal with the duly elected governments,” Smith added. 

“That includes mine, but it also includes the government of Canada.”