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Toronto mayoral hopeful Olivia Chow is learning why one of her key strategists has labelled himself the “Prince of Darkness” of Canadian politics after Warren Kinsella suggested John Tory’s transit plan was “segregationist.”

In a series of tweets Tuesday, Kinsella noted that Tory’s SmartTrack transit plan avoids two predominately black neighbourhoods in Toronto.

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“Is John Tory’s Smart Track, you know, Segregationist Track?” Kinsella wrote in a tweet that has since been deleted.

Another tweet showed a map with the neighbourhoods crossed out and a picture of John Tory with a word bubble coming from his mouth saying: “You will note we were careful to exclude Jane/Finch and Rexdale from SmartTrack.”

Chow said Wednesday morning at a transit announcement that Kinsella is only a volunteer on her campaign and said he does not speak for her campaign.

“I do not believe Mr. Tory discriminates. My campaign did not say that,” she said, adding Kinsella — one of the better known political strategists in the country — was just one of “thousands” of volunteers.