Ford apologizes for saying First Nations 'keep coming hat in hand' amid Bill 5 controversy

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is apologizing for remarks he made this week saying that First Nations cannot "keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government" for more money.

Ford said he apologized during a meeting at Queen's Park Thursday with several dozen chiefs who are part of Anishinabek Nation, which represents 39 First Nations in the province.

"I sincerely apologize for my words — not only if it hurt all the chiefs in that room, but all First Nations," Ford said.

"I get passionate because I want prosperity for their communities. I want prosperity for their children and their grandchildren."

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige, who appeared alongside Ford at a news conference following the meeting, told reporters that the premier has "owned what he said" and "corrected himself" for the "hat in hand" comment.

Ford has also committed to working with First Nations as a good treaty partner, she said.

"While there are many other rightsholders in this province, our chiefs felt today that the apology was sincere," she said.

"We are looking at today as a new day going forward."

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.

Bill 5 has sparked outrage among First Nations across the province who 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Many First Nations have threatened to blockade roads, railways and mines if the bill is not repealed.

On Wednesday, Ford said he is willing to give First Nations whatever they want for support to develop mines, but that came with a warning.

"When I first came into office, I told Minister (Greg) Rickford, 'Treat them well, give them what they need, whatever they want for them to prosper.' But 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."

Condemnation for those comments was swift. Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, National Chief of The Assembly of First Nations (AFN), wrote in a letter to Ford Thursday that every First Nation has the right to express their objections.

"As Premier you should be supporting those rights, not pejoratively dismissing them," Nepinak wrote. "Your remarks only serve to perpetuate racist stereotypes and are not acceptable in any way or circumstance.

"First Nations have expressed substantive legal concerns that require dialogue and resolution in a respectful way with the Crown."

Debassige told reporters at Thursday's news conference that First Nations within the Anishinabek Nation remain opposed to Bill 5, saying that representatives have spoken with the premier to propose "ideas and solutions."

"We're not here to perpetuate a circus, to perpetuate misinformation — we remain steadfast in the rights of our nations, we remain steadfast in supporting those rights and how our First Nations are going to work with the Crown," she said.