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Time of India
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Why is Ontario Premier Doug Ford apologising to First Nation Ministers? Watch
Ontario Premier Doug Ford issued an apology for his controversial remarks after meeting with First Nations chiefs on Bill had warned that First Nations cannot 'keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government' if they oppose mining or other resource projects – comments Indigenous leaders condemned as Premier met on June 19 with chiefs from the Anishinabek Nation, which represents 39 of Ontario's 133 First Nations chiefs, to discuss his government's contentious legislation to speed up resource projects, known as Bill the previously scheduled meeting at Queen's Park was overshadowed by comments the Premier had made a day earlier. Show more Show less
CTV News
11 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Ontario to provide ice storm recovery funding for businesses, municipalities
Ontario Premier Doug Ford arrives in Barrie, Ont. on Friday, April 4, 2025 to inspect the damage from the ice storm and thank front-line workers and volunteers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Drost The Ontario government says it's introducing two financial assistance programs to help municipalities and businesses recover from a severe March ice storm. The storm in late March left nearly 400,000 homes and businesses with power outages and damaged property as freezing rain covered parts of Ontario in layers of ice. The province says it will launch two one-time financial assistance programs to help with ice storm recovery, including one to help municipalities pay for emergency response and cleanup costs such as clearing fallen trees. The other program will provide up to $5 million for small businesses, small farms and not-for-profit organizations to pay for storm-related cleanup and essential repairs not covered by private insurance. Related Articles The province did not specify how much money it has set aside for the programs, but said final amounts for business assistance will be based on the number of applicants and eligible costs, while municipal funding will be based on the eligible emergency response and recovery costs. The province says eligible businesses and municipalities will have until Oct. 31 to apply for the funding. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Doug Ford apologizes over 'hat in hand' comment about First Nations
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 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Ottawa Citizen
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Doug Ford apologizes to Ontario First Nations for his 'passionate' comments
OTTAWA — Ontario Premier Doug Ford has apologized to Ontario First Nations for saying they cannot 'keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government' for more money. Article content On Thursday, Ford met with chiefs who are part of Anishinabek Nation, which represents 39 First Nations in the province. Before the meeting started, he issued an apology to them and repeated his apology in public during a press conference after the meeting. Article content Article content Article content '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,' he said. Article content Article content Linda Debassige, Grand Chief of the Anishinabek Nation, said the chiefs in the meeting felt that Ford's apology was 'sincere.' Article content 'We are looking at today as a new day going forward,' she said. Article content Ford made those comments on Wednesday over concerns that First Nations in the province have over the passage of Bill 5, which gives the province the power to suspend municipal and provincial laws for projects through so-called special economic zones. Article content Ford has said the mineral-rich Ring of Fire region in northern Ontario will be declared the first such zone. While First Nations have said they want to be part of economic development, they are outraged by the government's decision to proceed with legislation before consulting them. Article content Article content Ford dismissed those concerns during an unrelated press conference. Article content Article content 'This is like handing an opportunity on a silver platter to First Nations that, by the way, I have treated like gold,' he said. '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.' Article content Ford continued: '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.' Article content Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak urged Ford to withdraw his remarks in a letter sent Thursday, saying that his words 'only serve to perpetuate racist stereotypes and are not acceptable in any way or circumstance.'
Vancouver Sun
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Doug Ford apologizes to Ontario First Nations for his 'passionate' comments
OTTAWA — Ontario Premier Doug Ford has apologized to Ontario First Nations for saying they cannot 'keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government' for more money. On Thursday, Ford met with chiefs who are part of Anishinabek Nation, which represents 39 First Nations in the province. Before the meeting started, he issued an apology to them and repeated his apology in public during a press conference after the meeting. '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,' he said. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Linda Debassige, Grand Chief of the Anishinabek Nation, said the chiefs in the meeting felt that Ford's apology was 'sincere.' 'We are looking at today as a new day going forward,' she said. Ford made those comments on Wednesday over concerns that First Nations in the province have over the passage of Bill 5, which gives the province the power to suspend municipal and provincial laws for projects through so-called special economic zones. Ford has said the mineral-rich Ring of Fire region in northern Ontario will be declared the first such zone. While First Nations have said they want to be part of economic development, they are outraged by the government's decision to proceed with legislation before consulting them. Ford dismissed those concerns during an unrelated press conference. 'This is like handing an opportunity on a silver platter to First Nations that, by the way, I have treated like gold,' he said. '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 continued: '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.' Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak urged Ford to withdraw his remarks in a letter sent Thursday, saying that his words 'only serve to perpetuate racist stereotypes and are not acceptable in any way or circumstance.' Ford justified his brash comments by saying he gets 'passionate' on the issue. 'I want prosperity for their communities. I want prosperity for their children,' he said. 'As I said before, I'll always respect treaty rights, and I'll always respect the duty to consult, because without First Nations, we can't get the critical minerals out of the ground. We can't have the energy that we need, that the whole world wants,' he said. 'We're going to work together. We're going to get through this, and we're going to have a great collaboration,' he added. The federal government is also dealing with similar resistance from Indigenous peoples for fast-tracking a bill with the same number, C-5, which would also give cabinet sweeping powers to override federal laws to approve projects in the national interest. Like in Ontario, Indigenous peoples said they have not been consulted on the legislation beforehand. This has led to chiefs promising a summer of discontent over C-5, which is expected to be passed in the House of Commons by the end of this week and in the Senate next week. Kebaowek First Nation Chief Lance Haymond qualified the rushed legislative process that led to the creation of C-5 a 'case study in how not to engage with Indigenous nations.' 'The conditions for an Idle No More 2.0 uprising are being written into the law as we speak,' he told the House of Commons transport committee late Wednesday night. Prime Minister Mark Carney said section 35 of the Constitution — which provides protection to the treaty rights of Indigenous peoples in Canada — is at the 'heart' of the bill and that it respects the principle of free, prior and informed consent. He said the legislation also has to be seen in parallel with measures his government is taking to finance equity ownership for Indigenous participation. The government has notably doubled the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program from $5 billion to $10 billion to help Indigenous peoples make major economic investments. Carney said projects of national interest would only go ahead after consultation with provinces, Indigenous groups and stakeholders and only if conditions are met. Liberal MP Marc Miller, who served as minister of Indigenous Services and minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, said the entire process is about respect and building trust. 'You can't do that through legislation. You have to do that by being patient and sitting down and talking to people in a respectful way,' he told the National Post. — With files from Stephanie Taylor and the Canadian Press. National Post calevesque@ Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
