Ontario Premier Doug Ford has issued an apology for comments he made

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has issued an apology for comments he made suggesting Indigenous communities are too dependent on government handouts. He made the original statements during a press conference in St. Catharines regarding resource development in northern Ontario, where he implied that First Nations should engage in mineral extraction rather than seeking government funding. This led to accusations of racism from several Indigenous leaders, including Sol Mamakwa, NDP MPP for Kiiwetinoong, who called the language "very deeply troubling."

The backlash occurred in the context of discussions around Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, which aims to fast-track infrastructure and mining projects. The legislation has been criticized by some First Nations for potentially overriding environmental, heritage, and Indigenous consultation requirements in "special economic zones," which they argue could lead to development on traditional lands without consent.

Ford clarified that his government is committed to collaborating with Indigenous communities on resource development, emphasizing that it must be a two-way process. The apology follows a meeting with Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige, who accepted the apology as sincere. Despite the apology, concerns persist regarding the potential impact of Bill 5 on First Nations' rights and the environment.