Ford apologizes to MPP Sol Mamakwa after accusing him of COVID-19 vaccine queue jumping

Ontario Premier Doug Ford's office sayshe has phoned Indigenous MPPSol MamakwaFridayto apologizefor publiclyaccusing himof jumping the line to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

"Earlier today, Premier Ford called New Democratic Party MPP Mamakwa for a private conversation to apologize for his comments during Question Period yesterday," a spokesperson for the premier's office said in an email.

Mamakwa confirmed he received thecall just before 3 p.m. He said the call lasted for a minute and half.During the call the MPP saidFord apologized "for attacking me personally yesterday during the question period."

Mamakwa added that he appreciated the call, but did not say if he accepted the apology.

"As an Indigenous person, yes, it was a personal attack on me saying that I jumped the line. But I think when you are trying to save lives, literally, in Indigenous communities, that wasn't a fair comment," he toldreporters on Friday.

"It's the Indigenous people across Ontario that need a public apology from him," he said.

Mamakwa, who representsthe northwest Ontario riding ofKiiwetinoong,was invited by Muskrat Dam First Nation Chief Gordon Beardyto receivehis first dose of the vaccinein February.

Demands for the apology grew from the opposition after Ford's comment in question period on Thursday.

"The member flew in [to] get his vaccine, so thank you for doing that andkind of jumping the line,"Ford said at the time. "I talked to a few chiefs that were pretty upset about that forflying into the community that he doesn't belong to, but that's here nor there."

Mamakwa said Ford told him he felt the MPP was "going after him" on Thursday by asking about the vaccine plan for urban Indigenous adults, which is what prompted the comment.

He said Ford invited him to come meet him in his officebut Mamakwasaid he would rather see him in the fly-in community in Northern Ontario where there is awater, housing and mental health crisis, instead of going to his office "and having a cup of tea."