Latest news with #LindaDebassige
Yahoo
12 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
National Post
13 hours ago
- Politics
- National Post
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 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 Ford dismissed those concerns during an unrelated press conference. 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 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.' Article content 'I want prosperity for their communities. I want prosperity for their children,' he said. Article content '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.
Yahoo
13 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 to several dozen chiefs who are part of the Anishinabek Nation. 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. Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige says she and the 39 First Nations she represents have accepted Ford's apology. 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." This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025. Liam Casey and Allison Jones, The Canadian Press
CBC
13 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
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 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." First Nations are livid with the province over the passage of 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 designation of these zones is part of a new omnibus law that Ford's government says is designed to speed up the construction of large infrastructure projects, particularly mines. Ford has said the mineral-rich Ring of Fire region in northern Ontario will be declared the first such zone. First Nations have said they want to be part of economic development, but they are outraged by the government's decision to proceed with legislation before consulting them.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Chiefs of Ontario decry lack of consultation on Bill C-5
The Chiefs of Ontario Leadership Council at the Chiefs of Ontario Special Chiefs Assembly in Toronto on October 10, 2024. From left to right: Grand Chief Joel Abram, Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians, Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige, Anishinabek Nation, Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill, Six Nations of the Grand River, Chief Shelly-Moore Frappier, Temagami First Nation, Grand Chief Francis Kavanaugh, Grand Council Treaty #3, and Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict, Chiefs of Ontario (Supplied/Chiefs of Ontario)
