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

CBC News

· Posted: Jun 19, 2025 3:54 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 minutes ago

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is apologizing for remarks helium made this week saying that First Nations cannot "keep coming chapeau successful manus each the clip to the government" for much money.

Ford said helium apologized during a gathering Thursday with respective twelve chiefs who are portion of Anishinabek Nation, which represents 39 First Nations successful the province.

"I sincerely apologize for my words — not lone if it wounded each the chiefs successful that room, but each First Nations," Ford said.

"I get passionate due to the fact that I privation prosperity for their communities. I privation prosperity for their children and their grandchildren."

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige, who appeared alongside Ford astatine a quality league pursuing the meeting, told reporters that the premier has "owned what helium said" and "corrected himself" for the "hat successful hand" comment.

Ford has besides committed to moving with First Nations arsenic a bully pact partner, she said.

"While determination are galore different rightsholders successful this province, our chiefs felt contiguous that the apology was sincere," she said.

"We are looking astatine contiguous arsenic a caller time going forward."

First Nations are livid with the state implicit the transition of Bill 5, which gives furniture the powerfulness to suspend municipal and provincial laws for chosen projects done the instauration of alleged peculiar economical zones.

The designation of these zones is portion of a caller omnibus instrumentality that Ford's authorities says is designed to velocity up the operation of ample infrastructure projects, peculiarly mines.

Ford has said the mineral-rich Ring of Fire portion successful bluish Ontario volition beryllium declared the archetypal specified zone.

First Nations person said they privation to beryllium portion of economical development, but they are outraged by the government's determination to proceed with authorities earlier consulting them.