A $110-million lawsuit filed by a Sudbury mining firm is further proof that exploration agreements with First Nations are falling apart because the province is not doing its job, an NDP critic said Friday.

“A lot of that is because this government has failed to establish a framework so that First Nations, industry and government can establish a good working relationship,” MPP Michael Mantha (Algoma-Manitoulin) told reporters.

Mantha was reacting to a lawsuit filed Thursday by Northern Superior Resources Inc. against the province for failing to engage Sachigo Lake First Nations on its behalf to mediate a financial disagreement between the band and the company.

In its statement of claim, which was filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the junior mining company said the Ontario government “took no substantive steps” to engage First Nations, “nor did it advise NSR it would not be taking any such steps.”

The claims by Northern Superior Resources, which was searching for gold, diamonds and other minerals, have not been proved in court.

“(By the government) sitting on the sidelines, we are seeing time and time again these lawsuits — four of them now have been filed against this provincial government,” Mantha said.

In an email, Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle said: “Ontario is committed to promoting mineral exploration and development in a manner that respects Aboriginal and treaty rights, and meeting the Crown’s duty to consult where it arises.”

“With respect to this particular matter, my ministry remains committed to working with both parties to help foster a positive relationship, while ensuring that Sachigo Lake First Nation is appropriately consulted,” he said.

Tory MPP Norm Miller said this latest lawsuit once again “demonstrates the sorry state of mining . . . they can’t do business in Ontario.”