Doug Ford apologizes to First Nations for ‘hat in hand' comments
Premier Doug Ford has apologized to First Nations for comments he made while pushing his controversial Bill 5 that fast-tracks mining approvals.
Speaking to reporters at Queen's Park on Thursday after a two-hour meeting with chiefs from the Anishinabek Nation, which represents 39 First Nations across Ontario, Ford was contrite.
'I just want to say I sincerely apologize for my words, not only if it hurt all the chiefs in that room, but all First Nations,' the premier said.
'I speak from the heart and sometimes my words don't come out properly, which I think you've all seen over a number of years. I sincerely apologize if that has offended anyone. I've never been too proud to sit back and apologize for something that I've said or if have offended someone,' he said.
Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige, who was standing beside Ford as he spoke, accepted his apology.
'Our chiefs felt today that the apology was sincere. We are looking at today as a new day going forward,' said Debassige.
'The premier has corrected himself for the 'hat in hand' comment and has committed to be working with us as a good treaty partner and has owned what he said,' she said, 'and I'm not going to belabour that.'
However, Debassige emphasized that while the chiefs appreciated the confab, the Anishinabek Nation still opposes Bill 5, the '
Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act
,' which was passed two weeks ago.
'We remain steadfast in the rights of our nations,' she stressed, noting other matters were discussed behind closed doors.
'It would be disrespectful to our First Nations communities to suggest their only concern is Bill 5 at this time.'
The meeting came one day after Ford was accused by New Democrat MPP Sol Mamakwa of making 'racist' remarks about First Nations.
On Wednesday in St. Catharines, the premier said 'there's an opportunity of a lifetime for them' if minerals can be extracted more quickly from remote regions.
'We're giving them $3 billion with a B … to be equity partners, to make their communities more prosperous and wealthier and have services they've never had before,' said Ford, noting' 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 — 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. It's simple,' he said.
In a letter Thursday to Ford, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak accused the premier of 'pejoratively dismissing' Indigenous rights.
'Your remarks only serve to perpetuate racist stereotypes and are not acceptable in any way or circumstance,' she wrote.
For his part, Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong) said Thursday 'that's not the way we create relationships with First Nations' and had urged Ford to apologize.
'As First Nations, you know, we are not beggars,' he added. 'That type of thinking is not great … it belongs back in the 1950s.'
Ford's mea culpa overshadowed a meeting that had been called as his Progressive Conservatives scrambled to fix Bill 5 in regulation following its speedy passage before the legislature rose for the summer break.
Opponents charge the law breaches long-standing First Nation treaty rights as well as waters down environmental protections with of new 'special economic zones' designed to fast track project approvals.
Ford's Tories argue the law — similar to
the federal Bill C-5 being pushed through by Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals
— is needed to get projects approved quickly
The premier and prime minister say U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war against Canada means that approvals must be expedited.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
3 hours ago
- Associated Press
House of Commons passes One Canadian Economy Act
OTTAWA, ON, June 20, 2025 /CNW/ - Canada's new government has a mandate to build big, build bold, and build now. Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, welcomed the passing in the House of Commons of Bill C-5, One Canadian Economy Act. The legislation will build one strong Canadian economy by: Taken together, these measures will create and connect Canadians to good-paying careers and more prosperity. The Prime Minister shared an update on this work with the premiers of the provinces and territories during their meeting earlier today. The leaders agreed to stay in close contact as they reinforce Canada's strength at home. Indigenous partnership is a critical component of this legislation, and fulsome consultation will be pivotal to the success of future projects. The Government of Canada is committed to respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and the rights set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. To this end, Prime Minister Carney will be meeting with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis over the coming weeks. Bill C-5 now moves to the Senate for consideration and brings us one step closer to removing federal barriers to free trade by Canada Day. Quotes 'Today's passing of Bill C-5, One Canadian Economy Act, will remove trade barriers, expedite nation-building projects, and unleash economic growth, with Indigenous partnership at the centre of this growth. It's time to build big, build bold, and build now. As Canadians, we can give ourselves more than any foreign nation can ever take away.' — The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada 'The adoption of Bill C-5 by the House of Commons is a crucial step in building one Canadian economy and getting big projects built faster. Thank you to colleagues who supported this legislation – you are helping build a stronger Canada.' — The Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, President of the King's Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy 'This legislation is about building a stronger, more united Canada. Let's build trust, tear down internal trade barriers, and create one single economy – from coast to coast to coast. Together, we're building a stronger Canada, for everyone.' — The Hon. Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade 'I am pleased to see the One Canadian Economy Act achieve this milestone. This Act means we are no longer asking 'Why build?', but instead 'How do we get it done?'. We are removing barriers, leveraging Canada's resources and talented workers, centring Indigenous consultation and equity, and continuing to fight climate change – all to get building and to become an energy superpower. In the new economy we are building, Canada will be defined by delivery, not delay.' — The Hon. Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources 'Indigenous Peoples' voices are at the table where discussions are happening, and decisions are made. This government understands that Indigenous Peoples have the right to determine their future. As the first Indigenous Minister of Indigenous Services, I understand the importance of relationship moving forward – and I am pleased to see the Prime Minister has determined this as a priority and a critical part of the work ahead.' — The Hon. Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services Related Product This document is also available at SOURCE Prime Minister's Office
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Major projects bill expected to pass before MPs leave for the summer
OTTAWA — If you blink, you might miss it. Prime Minister Mark Carney's controversial major projects bill was set to finish its dash through the House of Commons today — the final day of the sitting before summer — with support from the Conservatives and not-so-quiet grumblings from the other opposition parties. 'Usually, on the last day of sitting before the summer, everyone is smiling, we're in a good mood, we pat ourselves on the backs. But today, I would say that's not really the case,' said Bloc Québécois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval during a speech on Friday. The final vote on Bill C-5 in the House is set to happen shortly after 5 p.m. before making its way to the Senate for a final adoption expected within a week, on Friday, June 27. The legislation has two parts. The first, which has more support across party lines, aims to eliminate internal trade and labour mobility barriers in Canada. The second part, which would give cabinet sweeping powers to approve natural resource and infrastructure projects deemed in the national interest, has raised considerably more concerns. Indigenous communities, environmental groups, opposition parties and even some Liberal MPs have said they are uncomfortable with the lack of consultation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis people prior to tabling the bill, but also the extent of the powers that would give the government of the day the power to ignore other federal laws for five years. 'Pretending that this unprecedented power grab was ever discussed in the election is a sham, and we can add an 'e' to that. It's a shame,' said Green Party leader Elizabeth May. C-5 was rushed through committee earlier this week. Despite that, opposition parties managed to pass amendments which include exempting a number of laws — such as the Indian Act and the Conflict of Interest Act — from being ignored when considering major projects and publishing a list of national interest projects with timelines and costs. 'These amendments matter,' said Shannon Stubbs, energy and natural resource critic for the Conservatives when describing the changes in the House. 'They bring transparency, accountability, more certainty, more clarity and integrity to a bill that originally had none.' Stubbs said despite those changes, 'major concerns' remain. She cited the need to prevent ministers from removing projects from the national interest list at any time but also add in the bill clear timelines to approve projects to increase certainty for investors. On Friday, opposition parties claimed a small victory. NDP MP Jenny Kwan, with the help of the Bloc's Marilène Gill, argued the Speaker of the House should divide C-5 into two distinct parts so that MPs could vote on the portions on internal trade and major projects separately at third reading. Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia granted their request. 'While they are ultimately designed to strengthen the Canadian economy, they deal with different issues that could very well stand independently from one another,' he explained. The passage of C-5 concludes in a dramatic way a packed four-week spring sitting that saw Carney's government table significant omnibus bills, very fast, but adopt very few. The government tabled C-2, the Strong Borders Act, which seeks to secure the Canada-U.S. border, fight organized crime and fentanyl and boost the fight against financial crimes. It is facing criticism for sweeping new powers that would allow officials to obtain information without a warrant and for restricting the asylum claim process, among others. It also tabled C-4, the Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act, which includes some of the government's campaign promises on affordability like a middle-class tax cut and removal of the GST on new homes for first-time homebuyers. However, the bill has been criticized as it also seeks to exempt federal political parties from modern privacy laws. Unlike the major projects bill, C-2 and C-4 were not fast-tracked, meaning that they will continue to make their way through the legislative process during the fall sitting. Interestingly, the first legislation to pass all stages in this new Parliament was not a government bill. Last week, MPs unanimously approved C-202, a Bloc bill to protect the supply management system which regulates the price and production of dairy, poultry and eggs, from future trade deals. That same bill was stalled in the Senate in the last legislature and ended up dying on the order paper when the election was called. This time, the Senate approved C-202 on division, and it is now awaiting royal assent. National Post calevesque@ Doug Ford apologizes to Ontario First Nations for his 'passionate' comments 'We have to get that balance right': Liberal MPs express worries about major projects bill Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Hamilton Spectator
10 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Here We Stand': River journey protests controversial bills
A 20-year-old university student from Attawapiskat First Nation in northern Ontario is putting his summer on hold — to take a 400-kilometre boat journey in protest against new provincial and federal bills he says threaten his people's land, culture and way of life. Jeronimo Kataquapit is leading a grassroots movement called 'Here We Stand,' a direct response to Ontario's recently passed Bill 5 and the proposed federal Bill C-5 — pieces of legislation that, according to Indigenous leaders, accelerate mining and development in the Ring of Fire region without proper Indigenous consultation. Kataquapit's journey, which began Monday from Attawapiskat, is a physical reassertion of Indigenous presence and inherent rights in a territory he argues is wrongly portrayed as uninhabited. 'One of the general opinions I hear is that there are no First Nations here, that our way of life is gone,' Kataquapit said. 'They say that whenever they come to do surveys or look around, there's no evidence we were here — but there is evidence that we were here.' To emphasize his point, Kataquapit is planting tipi poles every half-kilometre and raising community-made flags to mark the nations' territory and challenge the claim that the Ring of Fire is 'empty land.' Visible markers will send a clear message to both levels of government, he said. Bill 5 and Bill C-5 will open the door for governments to carve out special economic zones or designate projects that can bypass both environmental rules and the need for Indigenous consent. 'UNDRIP is broken. Free, prior, and informed consent is broken. The duty to consult is broken,' said Coleen Moonias, a spokesperson for Neskantaga First Nation. 'We must continue to fight together and be united.' At the heart of this dispute is the Ring of Fire, a vast mineral-rich region that provincial and federal governments see as key to Canada's ambitions as an 'international resource superpower.' Attawapiskat and Neskantaga are Cree and Oji-Cree First Nations located in the James Bay Lowlands. Both are members of the Mushkegowuk Council and have a long history of defending their lands and waterways from industrial development, including projects in the Ring of Fire region. The council, after seeing Kataquapit's efforts, helped turn his solo action into a larger movement. 'Anything that happens by the Ring of Fire will affect Attawapiskat itself, whether it's hydroelectric dams, whether it's any type of environmental contamination, will affect Attawapiskat. All water flows down,' Kataquapit said. The James Bay Lowlands is one of the world's largest untouched peatland areas. This area has vast wetlands, forests and rivers that provide important homes for woodland caribou, lake sturgeon and millions of migratory birds. People living along the Attawapiskat River, which flows 748 kilometres from Attawapiskat Lake, call themselves 'the water people,' as they care for the rivers, swamps and peatlands around them. Wetlands act as a carbon sink, helping to filter and clean the water that flows into the rivers. 'They call it the swamp. They call us Swampy Cree people. So they have a purpose,' Michel Koostachin, a member of Attawapiskat First Nation. If protections are weakened, local First Nations fear mining could harm habitats and contaminate the water with industrial pollutants and toxins. 'Industry comes and goes — whether it's dams, hydro or mining — but the people who don't come and go are the First Nations people,' said Abram Benedict, Ontario regional chief for the Chiefs of Ontario. 'When the land is desecrated, it's the First Nations people who are left to clean it up. There are no water pipelines running up into the north, and while there are many fresh bodies of water, it only takes one bad environmental disaster to contaminate them all. I don't blame people for wanting to protect the land.' Neskantaga, located upriver, has endured Canada's longest-running boil water advisory — over 30 years. Attawapiskat has also faced on-and-off boil water advisories for years. While allies organize rallies and lobby at Parliament Hill and Queen's Park, Kataquapit — a filmmaker and second-year geography and environmental management student at the University of Waterloo — is travelling with his parents and brother along the Attawapiskat River. 'We're out in what most people would consider the middle of nowhere—about 500 kilometres north of the nearest highway,' Kataquapit said. The trip came together just two weeks ago, after Kataquapit learned about federal Bill C-5, then known as the 'national interest' legislation. 'When I first heard of Bill C-5, I thought, 'Okay, this is it. They're going to come in and this is just going to completely stomp all over our race,'' he said. 'The Ring of Fire is coming, and we have to act.' Kataquapit pointed to Ontario's Bill 5 as clear evidence that the provincial government does not value meaningful input from Indigenous communities. He noted that the legislation was passed without consulting First Nations, undermining the duty to consult and weakening legal protections for Indigenous rights and the environment. 'The time for talking is over. Just look at Ontario's Bill 5. They showed us how much our words are worth to them,' he said. 'We have to go out on the land and get things started.' Kataquapit called his parents and told them he was clearing his summer. They immediately agreed, cancelling their own plans to join him on the river. He used his university funds to get started — fuel, supplies and gear. As word spread, donations began arriving from Attawapiskat, neighbouring First Nations and supporters online. Over the week, the community created family flags with handwritten messages like: 'Youth are for the land,' 'Youth want to protect the land' and 'We need to conserve the land and waters for future generations.' The family livestreams their journey on Facebook , using a Starlink internet connection powered by a generator set up on their boat. This allows them to share their trip in real time as they move along the river and make stops. 'I'm not waiting for anyone. We just need to get out there and start informing as many people as possible,' Kataquapit said. The journey upriver is tough, especially this time of year. Water levels are low, forcing them at times to get out and pull the boats through shallow stretches. His mother, Monique Edwards, said the family's connection to the land runs deep. 'We're people that go out on the land all the time. He's always been; even before he walked, we got him out on the land,' she said. The initial destination for the river journey was the confluence of the Muketei River and the main Attawapiskat River. Now they plan to go further, which involves a first stop at the Muketei River junction to plant the family flags and take videos on Friday, followed by a continuation further upriver to establish an encampment with Neskantaga First Nation and other Indigenous communities who have expressed interest in joining. Members of Attawapiskat and other First Nations are expected to join them by float plane at the encampment, possibly next Monday. Kataquapit said more than 30 people have already signed up for the float planes, and he expects more to join. He said all of this is being funded through donations and individuals' personal money. Kataquapit is documenting every step as the expedition's videographer, photographer and social media manager. He sees the fight against the bills as a long-term commitment, and is determined to remain on the land throughout the summer and fall — and if necessary into the winter. 'Me and my parents, we're not going back to Attawapiskat. We're not going anywhere else until Bill 5 is withdrawn,' he said. Edwards said she is reflecting on the connection she has with their ancestors as they travel through the same places along the river that have been used for millennia. That connection to the past shapes how the family approaches their boat journey today. 'We don't just come in, make our mark, and leave it at that,' Kataquapit said. 'We spread out the fires, gather every single piece of trash, and carry it with us the entire journey. A large part of why we're doing this trip is to reassert our presence and show what true stewardship looks like.' Kataquapit warns that if governments are allowed to bypass Indigenous rights here, it sets a dangerous precedent for Indigenous nations across Canada and globally. 'Everyone is looking at the Ring of Fire. If we manage to stop, if we stand our ground and say, 'This is where we're going to stand, right here, and we're not going to move,' and if we are successful, then I think that will set a really solid precedent for every other potential conflict with the federal and provincial governments across Canada,' he said. 'These young people are making the stand. They're calling out peaceful protests, they're not blockading the road,' said Koostachin, who is also founder of Friends of Attawapiskat River, a coalition of community members and allies working to protect Attawapiskat, Neskantaga, and other Treaty 9 nations. Beyond peaceful demonstrations, legal action is also underway. Koostachin said Friends of Attawapiskat River are working closely with legal counsel from Legal Advocates for Nature's Defence and are committed to challenging the validity of Ontario's Bill 5 in court, arguing it violates Indigenous and treaty rights. He said that a First Nation — yet to be publicly named — is expected to lead the legal action, with Friends of Attawapiskat River and other First Nations communities prepared to intervene and submit arguments stating breaches of Indigenous, treaty and Aboriginal rights, as well as violations of UNDRIP. Similar legal challenges are anticipated if Bill C-5 is enacted at the federal level. 'The region is the last pristine land in northern Ontario,' said Koostachin. 'There will be no bulldozing across the Attawapiskat River without our consent. Our people will stand together and stand strong.' 'We're not environmental radicals. We're the stewards of the land ... we're not protesters, we're protectors.' Sonal Gupta / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada's National Observer Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
