Premier Doug Ford apologizes after using ‘racist rhetoric’ at St. Catharines event

Ontario Premier Doug Ford met with First Nations chiefs from across the province Thursday, to apologize for comments he made at an event in St. Catharines.

Ford faced the anger of Ontario’s First Nations at Queen’s Park, after being accused of using “racist rhetoric” Wednesday at an event in Niagara.

The premier had accused First Nations people of repeatedly going to the government “hat in hand” and not being able to take care of themselves.

Talks at Queen’s Park Thursday ended with handshakes and Ford’s apology.

“Grand Chief, I want to repeat it again,” said Ford. “I sincerely apologize if I’ve offended anyone.”

It followed a meeting that started with First Nations chiefs looking grim, as they arrived to see the premier.

Around 40 chiefs from Anishinabek Nation were previously scheduled to meet with the premier, but the meeting was overshadowed by Ford’s statements made Wednesday.

“First Nations that, by the way, I have treated like gold,” said Ford on Wednesday.

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In saying his treatment of First Nations is golden, the premier also criticized them for asking for money, while opposing his plans to open up mines in northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire, and for fighting his government’s Bill 5 that allows the government to sidestep development laws.

“There’s gonna be a point that you can’t just keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government,” said Ford on Wednesday. “You’ve gotta be able to take care of yourselves.”

“I’m bending over backwards to make sure we take care of ’em, but it’s a two-way street here,” he said.

Indigenous MPP Sol Mamakwa said the premier’s statements were deeply offensive and racist, and Ford’s relationship with First Nations “needs a reset.”

“It starts with an apology, that we can work together, but right now we are not working together,” said Mamakwa.

The Chiefs of Ontario sent Ford a statement saying they don’t “go to the government hat in hand” and they “do take care of themselves,” but they also said their communities “face systemic underfunding and institutionalized racism.”

“I speak from the heart, and sometimes my words don’t come out properly as I think you’ve seen over the years,” said Ford as part of his apology Thursday.

After the meeting at Queen’s Park, the premier apologized once more.

“I just want to say I sincerely apologize for my words, not only to the chiefs, but to all the First Nations,” said Ford.

There was a qualified acceptance from the chiefs, who will take the apology back to their First Nations.

“I can confirm that before the meeting started, the premier has indeed apologized and did indeed apologize to our First Nations rights holders sitting at that table today,” said Linda Debassige, who serves as the Grand Council Chief of the Anishinabek Nation. “We are looking at today as a new day going forward.”

The premier said it’s time for the provincial government and First Nations to work together to develop the economy.

“Nothing can move without consultations with the First Nations community, and I want the First Nations to prosper,” said Ford.

Ford had tried a number of times to turn the conversation to the economic threat from U.S. President Donald Trump, but the First Nations leaders didn’t seem to be going for that, focusing instead on their relationship with the premier.

There is no indication that Thursday’s meeting will have any effect on Bill 5, which the chiefs oppose.

READ MORE: Doug Ford apologizes over ‘hat in hand’ comment about First Nations