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Vaughan said the proposal is “reckless, irresponsible” and tosses Toronto into a political storm when it needs leadership on critical files such as asylum seekers, gangs and shootings on the city streets, transit and housing.

Vaughan said Ford is taking these actions because “he doesn’t like Toronto” and accused him of “breaking” the city.

He insisted the city is too important for the federal government to “stand idly by and let this happen.”

“We may not be able to change the electoral map but you can be damn sure we’re going to make sure the city of Toronto is protected in terms of its role in providing all kinds of opportunities and a home for millions of Canadians,” said Vaughan.

“If we have to work around Queen’s Park, we will work around Queen’s Park. Because at the end of the day Torontonians are Canadians too, and the Canadian government has a responsibility to protect Canadians, especially when people are taking such vindictive and destructive actions towards them.”

The Liberals have shown a penchant for finding ways to work around provinces.

The government’s vaunted $40-billion national housing strategy provides some money to provinces and territories, but delivers the bulk of federal funding through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. to provide more direct cash to cities.

The Liberals first announced the funding bypass in the 2017 budget, arguing it was needed to ensure cities could quickly access and spend money on the country’s stock of aging affordable housing.