Leaders of a right-wing separatist group in Canada say they have held multiple discussions with U.S. officials over the past year about what Alberta’s potential independence might look like — including conversations about adopting the U.S. dollar and forming a new military force.

The group, known as the Alberta Prosperity Project, is campaigning to put a referendum on Alberta’s separation from Canada on the ballot this year. Its leaders say they have met three times with officials from the U.S. State and Treasury departments and are tentatively planning a fourth meeting in Washington in the coming weeks to discuss how a transition could unfold if voters back independence.

Dennis Modry, a co-founder of the group, said he attended meetings on April 22, Sept. 29 and Dec. 16. Jeffrey Rath, a lawyer representing the separatists, said the discussions were held at the State Department headquarters. Modry described the talks as encouraging, saying U.S. officials expressed support for Alberta becoming a sovereign country, though he emphasized the group is not advocating for Alberta to become the 51st U.S. state.

U.S. officials downplayed the significance of the meetings. A senior State Department official said no high-ranking officials participated and no commitments were made, adding that another meeting is not scheduled. Representatives from the State Department, Treasury Department and the White House declined to identify who attended the discussions.

According to Modry, the meetings focused on exploring potential benefits to both Alberta and the United States if the province were to become independent, as well as clarifying that the separatists are seeking sovereignty rather than U.S. statehood.

The contacts have drawn criticism from former U.S. diplomats, who called the discussions unusual and potentially destabilizing. One former senior State Department official, speaking anonymously, described the engagement as “highly unusual” for dealings involving a close ally, arguing it could embolden movements that do not align with U.S. national interests.

Supporters of the separatist effort pointed to the Trump administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy, which states that the U.S. will “reward and encourage” governments, political parties and movements in the Western Hemisphere aligned with its principles. Michael Williams, a politics professor at the University of Ottawa, said the strategy suggests the administration views conservative political movements abroad as potential partners in advancing its broader geopolitical goals.