Muhammad Amanullah
Date: October 6, 2026 The True Post (Web News) —The office of Alberta Premier Daniel Smith has distanced itself from a meeting involving a member of her party and U.S. Republican strategists. The meeting has emerged at a time when Alberta is preparing to hold a referendum on October 19 on the issue of separation from Canada.
Premier’s spokesperson Sam Blackett made it clear that Daniel Smith has no connection to the activities of the individuals involved and was not aware of the alleged meetings. According to him, Smith opposes Alberta separating from Canada or becoming a U.S. state.
Who Is the Party Official?
The presence of Mitch Sylvester, president of the United Conservative Party’s Bonnyville-Cold Lake constituency association, at the meeting has intensified the political debate.
Sylvester also leads the Alberta Prosperity Project and has campaigned for Alberta’s separation from Canada. He previously organized a petition concerning separation in the province. After the required number of signatures were collected, the matter reached the courts. However, a court stopped the process earlier this year.
U.S. Strategists
According to the report, Sylvester met with a group of U.S. Republican strategists in Calgary in January. The meeting included discussions about software that could potentially be used to identify and mobilize people who support separation.
Sylvester said he was not satisfied with the discussions that took place during the meeting. He also raised legal and privacy concerns about the use of a list of Alberta Prosperity Project members.
The Oil and Water Issue
The matter received further attention after reports emerged that separatist leaders had allegedly discussed proposals with U.S. officials in Washington to obtain American support in exchange for access to Alberta’s oil and water.
However, Sylvester denied that any such discussion about access to oil or water took place during meetings in Washington. He said he only participated in one meeting in September.
He said that even if Alberta were to separate, he would not have the authority to negotiate such matters because he is not part of the government.
Separatists Deny Claims
Another prominent figure associated with the separatist movement, Jeff Rath, also denied the claims concerning oil and water. He said the reports were inaccurate and that a proposal for the United States to make royalty payments on Alberta’s oil was illogical.
Sylvester also said he did not believe American support was necessary for Alberta’s independence because there is already significant local support for the idea within the province.
Referendum as a Key Stage
According to Sylvester, Alberta is still only in the early stages of the separation debate, and the October 19 referendum is essentially intended to determine what the public wants. He said the province is still a long way from separation becoming a practical reality.
Meanwhile, concerns about foreign interference in the matter have also emerged in Canada. Federal Conservative MP Dane Lloyd said no one should have the right to make promises from outside Canada regarding the future of Alberta’s natural resources.
Government Also Paying Attention
Federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree directed questions about the matter to Canada’s security agency rather than commenting directly. He said democratic activities should be conducted according to democratic principles.
Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas also strongly criticized separatist leaders, saying that if the purpose of separation is to regain control over Alberta, seeking support from Washington would be contradictory to that objective.
Pressure on Smith
According to public opinion surveys in Alberta, a large majority supports remaining part of Canada, while election officials have predicted record turnout on October 19.
Smith has repeatedly said that separation is an important issue that cannot be ignored. However, opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has accused Smith of using the issue politically to appease separatists and keep her party united.
This is not the first time Smith has faced questions over whether she should take action against members of her party who support separation. Last week, United Conservative Party MLA Jason Stephan also announced that he would vote in favour of a second separation referendum. Smith, however, did not take action against him.
Nenshi says Smith’s priority is not public issues but keeping her party united and protecting her own political position.
