‘A new day going forward,’ First Nations chiefs accept Doug Ford’s apology after he received backlash for offensive comments 

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is apologizing for remarks he made earlier this week suggesting that First Nations should stop asking the government for money.

On Thursday, Ford said he was sorry for the remarks following a meeting with First Nations regarding Bill 5 at Queen’s Park.

“I get pretty passionate, and 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,” Ford said to the leaders of Anishinabek Nation.

The meeting comes amid tensions continuing to rise over the Ontario government’s controversial Bill 5, which gives cabinet the power to bypass provincial and municipal laws to speed up mining and energy production processes. 

It also comes one day after Ford seemed to complain about constantly investing in First Nations communities, and urging a need to take care of themselves instead of asking the government for money, which sparked widespread outrage from other politicians and the general public. 

“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,” the premier said in an unrelated press conference on Wednesday.

After apologizing to the leaders on Thursday, Ford assured that he’ll continue to meet with First Nation communities, which he says have always treated him “like gold.”

“I’ll always respect treaty rights, and I’ll always respect 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,” Ford said before shaking hands with both chiefs. 

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige confirmed that the premier apologized to First Nations rights holders before the Queen’s Park meeting was held, and said the chiefs felt as if his apology was sincere. 

“We are looking at today as a new day going forward,” Debassiage said. 

“We can confirm that the premier has agreed to continue the dialogue with our rights holders to move forward in a good way… I know that the premier knows there’s more to do here in this regard and I believe his words.”