Foreign influence commissioner could monitor an Alberta referendum on separation

Canada's new foreign influence watchdog says his mandate will include attempts by foreign agents to interfere at the provincial and municipal level across Canada, including any attempt on behalf of a foreign government to influence a referendum on Alberta separation.

Speaking to CBC News after testifying before a House of Commons committee regarding his nomination, Anton Boegman said his mandate isn't restricted to federal politics.

"My understanding of the legislation is that the requirements apply across Canada. They apply to provincial, municipal, Indigenous governments — activities of those governments."

That would include provincial votes such as an Alberta referendum on separating from Canada or a Quebec referendum on sovereignty, Boegman said.

"A provincial referendum would be a political process that would fall under the mandate. So, yeah, it very well could be something that could be looked at, that would require registration."

Boegman's comments come as Quebec's sovereignist Parti Québécois is riding high in the polls in the lead up to a fall provincial election and supporters of Alberta independence are working to collect the more than 177,000 signatures needed to trigger a referendum on whether the western province should cease to be part of Canada.

They also come after the Alberta Prosperity Project, which advocates for Alberta separating from Canada, travelled to Washington to meet with Trump administration officials and sought a possible $500-billion US line of credit to help fund an independent Alberta.

Top U.S. officials like Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have also commented on the movement.

"Rumour [is] that they may have a referendum on whether they want to stay in Canada or not, Bessent told right-wing channel Real America's Voice following the meetings. "People want sovereignty. They want what the U.S. has got."

Boegman said the Washington meeting could possibly fall under his mandate.

"I would say it is possible. I don't know the specifics of that. Any instance that would be brought to my attention, we would obviously have to get the detail about that, understand what the facts are and then assess them against the legislative framework."

Boegman had less to say when it came to whether India has been conducting foreign interference in Canada.

"I have not had access to any types of intelligence briefings or these sorts of things so all that I can assess is what I have read in the media," he said.

If people working on behalf of the Indian government try to influence Canadian politicians or government policy, they will have to register as foreign agents once the registry is established, Boegman said.