Trump administration staying out of Alberta separation referendum, ambassador says

Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.HomeNewsCanadaTrump administration staying out of Alberta separation referendum, ambassador says'The vote that's going to happen in October is a decision for the people of Alberta,' Pete Hoekstra said during a podcast interview in Edmonton You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra taking part in the PNWER (Pacific Northwest Economic Region) Annual Summit, in Edmonton Monday July 20, 2026. Photo by David Bloom /PostmediaThe Trump administration is staying out of the upcoming referendum on Alberta’s future in Canada, the U.S. ambassador to Canada says.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERSEnjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLESEnjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountAmbassador Pete Hoekstra said during a podcast interview in Edmonton on Monday that the Oct. 19 referendum vote is a matter for Albertans alone to decide.“The vote that’s going to happen in October is a decision for the people of Alberta,” Hoekstra told local talk show host Ryan Jespersen.“If (the referendum) is going to be influenced by governments, it’s going to be influenced by the government of Alberta and by the federal government, and maybe the other provinces, but not by the United States government,” he said.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againHoekstra said he had “clear direction from Washington” not to try to influence the referendum.The U.S. ambassador was in Alberta’s capital city to speak at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region’s annual summit.The visit comes three months ahead of a referendum in which Albertans will be asked whether the province should stay in Canada or start the legal process to hold a binding independence referendum.Some Alberta separatists say they have made multiple trips to Washington, D.C. over the past 15 months to meet with contacts in the U.S. government. Some critics have implied the Trump administration is engaging in “foreign interference” by meeting with separatists while intelligence watchers have warned there is a risk of disinformation campaigns from foreign powers. However, Premier Danielle Smith said in May she had seen “‘no credible evidence” of any state actors trying to manipulate the referendum debate.Hoekstra said that, while he was aware of the purported Washington meetings, U.S. officials sitting down with Alberta separatists doesn’t in itself constitute foreign interference.“(We) meet with people from all over,” said Hoekstra. “You get calls and request to meet with folks and… if they’re people that are working on issues that may have an impact on U.S. relations, there’s a good chance we’ll meet with them, just to get some kind of perspective.”Hoekstra laughed sarcastically when Jespersen likened the meetings to a taxpayer-funded anti-tariff ad the Ontario government ran in the U.S. last fall, ahead of the 2025 off-year elections that led to the president suspending trade negotiations with Canada.“Compared to a provincial government and Canadian taxpayers running (political) ads in the United States of America? You’re equating those two? C’mon, that’s not even close!” said Hoekstra.“(U.S. President) Donald Trump and the administration hasn’t given me a pot of money that says, ‘hey Pete, if there’s an interesting election or by-election, here’s $50,000, go spend it,'” he added.This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Hoekstra told Jespersen he thought the Ontario ad campaign was “outrageous,” calling it the first time in the U.S.’s 250-year history that a foreign government has tried to influence the outcome of upcoming elections.The fall Alberta referendum could have implications for the American economy. The province exports roughly 1.24-billion barrels of oil to the U.S. annually, more than any other jurisdiction in the world.U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in January that an independent Alberta would be a “natural partner” for his country.National Postrmohamed@postmedia.comOur website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.