QUEBEC – A Bloc Quebecois MP has apologized for a racial comment he made about his NDP rival’s candidacy.

Yvon Levesque, the incumbent MP for the riding of Abitibi-Baie James-Nunavik-Eeyou, had to apologize Friday after he said “certain voters won’t choose the NDP anymore because they are fielding a First Nations candidate.”

Levesque made the comment after the NDP announced it was running Cree leader Romeo Saganash in the riding that makes up a large part of Quebec’s north.

Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe said Levesque’s comments were “inappropriate.”

“I think he made a mistake,” Duceppe said. “You should never make that kind of analysis. It’s also wrong to think that just because Saganash is a Cree that all the Cree will vote for him.”

NDP Leader Jack Layton said the Bloc’s reaction isn’t good enough and the party should kick Levesque out.

However, it seems the issue is settled for Duceppe.

“We’re not going to get into demagoguery,” said the Bloc leader.