Accused of freezing out First Nations, Ford claims to be most ‘accessible’ premier ever
Premier Doug Ford was under fire yesterday after refusing to step outside the Pink Palace and sit down at a table set up by the chiefs of four First Nations on the front lawn.
During question period, Ford declared “there’s never been a premier that’s been more accessible” than he is for First Nations.
“I return every single phone call and take every single meeting,” said Ford. “Ask Regional Chief [Glen Hare]. He was the one who said that in front of numerous chiefs, and they all agreed.”
Multiple sources told Queen’s Park Today Ford is no longer taking meetings or calls from Hare after the regional chief criticized the government’s Greenbelt policy and publicly called on former housing minister Steve Clark to resign.
A letter obtained by Queen’s Park Today shows Hare was informed on September 12 that his quarterly meeting set for September 16 had been moved to the offices of the Indigenous affairs ministry and that only Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford would meet with him.
“He has been rebuffed,” said Caldwell First Nation Chief Mary Duckworth, who recently called for Rickford’s resignation.
Hare could not be reached for comment. Rickford’s office did not immediately reply to Queen’s Park Today’s questions.
Setting the table for Ford
A table was set up outside the legislature yesterday with an empty seat reserved for Ford to illustrate that the premier does not always have time for First Nations leaders.
The Land Defence Alliance — a group consisting of the Grassy Narrows, Big Trout Lake, Neskantaga and Wapekeka First Nations — sent letters last week to Premier Ford’s office inviting him to come outside of the Pink Palace and meet with them at their table.
Instead, the premier’s office offered a meeting with Rickford, which the First Nations rejected, insisting Ford meet with them at the appointed time and place.
“I don’t think he’s coming,” said Official Opposition Leader Marit Stiles as she sat down in Ford’s empty chair yesterday.
The chiefs have insisted for months that if the province wants mining projects such as the Ring of Fire developed inside their territories, the premier himself should meet with them on their terms. Yesterday, they made clear they will not be satisfied by offers to meet with Rickford or provincial bureaucrats.
Neskantaga First Nation Chief Chris Moonias blasted Ford’s claim he is accessible to First Nations.
“He said today he never turns First Nations away and always returns calls. Not to us. He lied today,” said Moonias during a press conference outside the legislature. “He doesn’t respect us. To be honest, he doesn’t give a f*ck about us.”
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Rickford said the chiefs weren’t really after a meeting with the premier.
“There’s a difference between asking for a good meeting versus a table out on the front lawn with a document that asks the premier and myself to discontinue developing northern Ontario,” said Rickford.
If Ford had shown up, the chiefs wanted him to sign a “declaration of respect,” promising that the province “will respect the right of First Nations to say ‘no’ to unwanted mining and other industry.”
The declaration would effectively give First Nations a veto over natural resources developments on their lands.
Rickford said the government would not be able to agree to that because some First Nations do support resource development.
“The problem is that there are communities in the surrounding area who don’t necessarily share their views,” he told reporters, noting the Marten Falls and Webequie First Nations are in favour of an all-season road to open up the Ring of Fire to development — unlike Neskantaga, which is opposed.
White Dog First Nation, which neighbours Grassy Narrows, is also in favour of development inside its territory, which Rickford said means Grassy Narrows’ “assertions … have to be balanced and countered with the interests of surrounding First Nation communities.”
Grassy Narrows Chief Rudy Turtle said that his community’s territorial boundaries are well defined and the province should commit to keeping development outside of them.
If the province will not recognize the authority of First Nations to refuse development in their territory, Turtle said the alliance will “stand up physically” to prevent that development.
“That is not our preference,” said Turtle. “We prefer to sit at the table, if [Ford] is smart enough to do that.”
Rickford brushed off the possibility of conflict.
“There’s nothing about reconciliation that involves confrontation,” he said.