Controversial federal Conservative leadership hopeful Kellie Leitch has fired another Twitter-based salvo that rips into the heart of sanctuary cities wanting to protect vulnerable undocumented people.

And London and its expansion of its transit dreams are right in her crosshairs.

“One law for all is a Canadian value,” Leitch tweeted. “ ‘Sanctuary cities’ will be ineligible for transit funding if I am PM.”

Coun. Jesse Helmer, a proponent of the city’s $560-million bus rapid transit plan, fired back.

“I look forward to you losing the (Conservative) leadership race,” he tweeted. “Trying to hold (London) and other (Canadian municipalities) hostage won’t work.”

“I do appreciate you being clear about your priorities.”

Leitch is a children’s surgeon and former chair of pediatric surgery at Western University. She was first elected to Parliament in 2011 in Simcoe-Grey.

Leitch has been running a leadership campaign that appears to have been ripped out of U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign playbook — heavy on nationalism with a hard-right immigration policy that proposes potential new Canadians be vetted for their “values.”

If Leitch wins the Conservative leadership and becomes prime minister, her vow on sanctuary cities would put millions of dollars in federal money in question for cities like London that need it to upgrade their transit systems.

“It’s a totally inappropriate and unproductive approach to federalism to have somebody running to be leader of a national party threatening municipalities about a decision that is up to municipalities,” Helmer said of London’s decision to become a sanctuary city.

“If we want to be a sanctuary city and provide municipal services regardless of their immigration status, that’s up to us.”

Helmer said the federal government “should not be running around making threats.”

He added that Leitch’s comment directly targets cities with major transit systems and needs for federal funding.

“I think it just shows that she’s not prepared to be prime minister of the country.”

Leitch’s comments both shocked and baffled London lawyer Susan Toth, an advocate for social justice and human rights.

She said what Leitch is proposing is a “form of blackmail” against municipalities.

“It’s unheard of, to be honest, and I’m not even sure what to think about what advice she got before she sent that tweet out,” she said.

Though Leitch’s comments were about transit funding, Toth said, they could be applied to any municipal policy that doesn’t fall in line with her views.

“The precedent would be shockingly dangerous,” she said.

Most disagreeable, Toth said, is Leitch’s politics of targeting of vulnerable people. “It’s so un-Canadian, and the fact that it’s getting any kind of traction at all is terrifying to me.”

jsims@postmedia.com

--- --- ---

Sanctuary cities

London city council unanimously backed a call Jan. 30 to make London a sanctuary city.

City staff are studying the concept and will report back to council.

The term refers to communities that ensure everyone who lives within the boundaries is considered to be part of the community.

It opens the doors for non-status migrants — people who are in Canada without the permission of the federal government — to have access to city services such as recreation and public health.

A sanctuary city policy is often “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Bureaucrats don’t ask for proof of citizenship or other identification before providing a service.

Toronto, Hamilton, Vancouver and Montreal have declared themselves sanctuary cities in Canada.