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TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford has apologized for saying First Nations should not keep coming “hat in hand” to the government if they say no to mining projects, a comment many First Nation leaders called racist.
Ford delivered that apology in a meeting at Queen’s Park Thursday to several dozen chiefs who are part of the Anishinabek Nation.
“I get pretty passionate and I just want to sincerely apologize for my words, not only is it for all the chiefs in that room, but for all First Nations,” Ford said as he spoke to Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige after the meeting.
On Wednesday, Ford said he was willing to give First Nations whatever they wanted for support to develop mines, but that came with a warning.
“There’s going to be a point that you can’t just keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government, you’ve got to be able to take care of yourselves,” Ford said.
“And when you literally have gold mines, nickel mines, every type of critical mineral that the world wants, and you’re saying, ‘No, no, I don’t want to touch that, by the way, give me money’ — not going to happen.”
Ford’s government recently passed into law Bill 5, which gives cabinet the power to suspend municipal and provincial laws for chosen projects through the creation of so-called special economic zones.
The premier has said the first such zone would be the Ring of Fire region in northern Ontario, which is said to be rich in critical minerals.
The special economic zone law is part of an omnibus bill that the government says is needed to speed up construction of large infrastructure projects, particularly mines.
Shortly after the passage of the bill into law, Anishinabek Nation asked for a meeting with the premier and Ford agreed. He was joined Thursday by Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford.
All said it was a positive meeting, which came after passionate protests from First Nations at Queen’s Park when Bill 5 was first introduced in mid-April.
“While there are many other rights holders in this province, our chiefs felt today that the apology was sincere,” said Debassige, whose Anishinabek Nation represents 39 First Nations across the province.
“We are looking at today as a new day going forward.”
The vast majority of Ontario’s 133 First Nations have spoken out against Bill 5 and see the new law as yet another example of a government trampling their rights and ignoring their concerns.
Many First Nations have threatened to blockade roads, railways and mines if the bill is not repealed.
“Our First Nations within the Anishinabek Nation remain opposed to Bill 5,” Debassige said.
“The opposition remains in that of which the speed of Bill 5 was entertained and this has been communicated to the premier and to various ministers. The First Nations have spoken with the premier, have proposed ideas and solutions and the premier has made certain commitments that we’re not going to speak to today.”
Ford did not commit to repealing the law, but he and Rickford are planning a summer of consultations with First Nations, along with Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce.
Other First Nation leaders were incredulous about Ford’s apology.
“Being ‘passionate’ doesn’t give you an excuse to express your racism,” said Alvin Fiddler, the Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations in northern Ontario, including those in the Ring of Fire region.
“If and when Doug Ford is ready to personally apologize to the people of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, we will consider it. If the premier is sincere with his apology, he needs to show it, not just say it.”
Ford has said the new law is a tool in the fight against U.S President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government has proposed legislation that is similar in many ways to Ontario’s law. That, too, has prompted anger from First Nations, who gathered en masse earlier this week in Ottawa to voice their concerns.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025.
Liam Casey and Allison Jones, The Canadian Press
