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Toronto Mayor John Tory is sticking by Nick Kouvalis, the controversial advisor who helped deliver him his 2014 electoral win.

Tory told the National Post editorial board Thursday he hopes Kouvalis will play a similar role in 2018. “He’s one of the smartest people I have available to me,” Tory said.

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Kouvalis, who helped make Rob Ford mayor in 2010, is currently managing Ontario MP Kellie Leitch’s Conservative leadership bid.

He is widely seen as the architect of a strategy that has seen Leitch embrace “Canadian Values” screening for new immigrants, a policy track that saw her dubbed a “karaoke version of Donald Trump,” by a rival this week.

Tory, however, said he isn’t even sure what role Kouvalis is playing for Leitch. “Believe it or not, I don’t discuss it with him,” he said.

Rivals have accused Leitch of using Trump-style “dog-whistle” politics to elbow her way into the spotlight in the crowded Conservative race.