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.

NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa, who represents the Ring of Fire region, called Ford's remarks "deeply offensive" and "deeply racist" while speaking on CBC Radio's Metro Morning on Thursday.