US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has weighed in on a separatist movement in Alberta, saying the western Canadian province is a “natural partner for the US”.

“Alberta has a wealth of natural resources, but they won’t let them build a pipeline to the Pacific,” Bessent told an American right-wing commentator in an interview on Thursday.

“I think we should let them come down into the US, and Alberta is a natural partner for the US. They have great resources. The Albertans are very independent people.”

The top US official’s comments come amid strained ties between US and Canada, and as signatures are being collected in the province seeking an independence referendum.

In comments to conservative host Jack Posobiec, Bessent went on to say there is a “rumour that they may have a referendum on whether they want to stay in Canada or not”.

A group in Alberta has until May to collect at least 178,000 signatures – or 10% of eligible voters – for a referendum campaign.

Asked about Bessent’s remarks on Friday, federal Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said he’d tell him “thanks but no thanks, we will do our own things”.

He said Canadians are “able to develop our natural resources at home” and pointed to a deal recently inked by Prime Minister Mark Carney with Alberta that opens the door for an oil pipeline to the Pacific. It’s a project long pushed for by Canada’s oil heartland but one which faces significant hurdles.

A spokesman for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in a statement to the BBC that the province supports new pipelines “west, east, north, and south, and we will continue to work with our US partners on building more pipeline capacity to US markets”.

“But the premier also believes the overwhelming majority of Albertans are not interested in becoming a US state”.

Late last year over 430,000 signatures were gathered for a petition calling for a united Canada to counter the separatist push, and polls indicate a majority of Albertans want to stay in Canada.

Many supporters of separatism have also told media they are seeking independence from Canada – not to join the US.

Mitch Sylvestre, who is spearheading the referendum petition, told the CBC on Friday he doesn’t think anyone in his movement is eyeing the US.

He said he thought Bessent’s comment on Alberta and the US being “natural partners” was obvious given the energy trade between them.

Still, some organisers of the movement have said they have travelled to Washington to meet officials from the Trump administration.

Meanwhile, trade talks between the US and Canada are on ice, and President Donald Trump has expressed irritation with the prime minister over a blunt speech he delivered at the World Economic Forum in Davos calling out “great powers” for weaponising their economic might.

Trump responded in his own speech with: “Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”

Other US officials have also criticised Carney’s speech, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who this week accused Canada of being “arrogant” and Carney of pandering to a domestic audience by adopting an anti-US stance.