U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent commented on the separatist movement in Alberta on Friday — making him the highest-ranking member of the Trump administration to weigh in on the province’s politics.

While appearing on the right-wing station Real America’s Voice, Bessent claimed Canada won’t let Alberta build a pipeline to the Pacific, adding, “I think we should let them come down into the U.S.”

Bessent says there’s a “rumour they may have a referendum on whether they may stay in Canada or not.”

Organizers of the Alberta independence movement are collecting signatures in order to trigger a referendum in the province.