Is it 'treason' for Alberta separatists to manoeuvre with foreign officials? Ottawa says no

Unlike the U.S. Logan Act, Canada has no law on the books stopping citizens from meeting with foreign governments

By Rahim Mohamed
Published Dec 30, 2025
Last updated 4 days ago
4 minute read
Join the conversation
U.S. Capitol building.
Private citizens in Canada do not need to clear meetings with foreign governments with the Canadian government. Photo by Ting Shen/Bloomberg

OTTAWA — Federal officials say that Alberta separatists going around Ottawa and repeatedly meeting with U.S. officials to advance their cause is legal for Canadians, within certain limits, even though similar behaviour could be prohibited elsewhere.

When separatist organizer Jeffrey Rath claimed last week he was meeting with officials connected to the White House to garner support for Alberta’s independence, Edmonton talk show host Ryan Jespersen responded by saying, “In a lot of countries, this tomfoolery would get you strung up for treason.”