Alberta Separatists' US Talks Spark Outcry

Revelations about Alberta separatists' talks in Washington have sparked an outcry from federalists and a call for legislative change. Corey Hogan, Calgary's lone Liberal member of Parliament, says Canada needs to consider overhauling its laws to address the kind of freelance negotiating trips made by separatist leaders to the US.

Hogan does not think the discussions between separatists and the US State Department meet the bar for treason, but says the cross-border talks are not innocent. He notes that Canada and the US have a long history of political consultants doing business on both sides of the border, but the rules governing those activities need to be re-examined.

The separatists proposed a number of ideas in a document put on the table for discussion during meetings at the State Department, including access to valuable resources such as fresh water, agriculture, forestry, mining, and precious metals. Land for a railway to Alaska was one potential idea.

Dane Lloyd, the Conservative MP tasked with leading his party's efforts to convince Albertans to stay in Canada, says he is concerned by reports of separatists going to Washington and offering up fresh water and oil in exchange for American support. Lloyd says no one has the right to promise away Albertan resources.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree deferred questions about the reporting to CSIS. The issue has raised concerns about the potential for foreign interference in Canadian affairs.

The Alberta separatists' campaign has been ongoing, with a provincial referendum scheduled for October 19. The separatists have been seeking support from various groups, including Republican strategists in the US.

The situation has sparked a debate about the need for clearer laws and regulations governing cross-border political activities. Hogan says a principle seems to have been violated, even if a rule hasn't.