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“He walks around as a tough guy, but he’s nothing but a coward,” said Premier Doug Ford, and then repeated his last phrase for emphasis. “He is nothing but a coward.”

The leader of Ontario’s PC government directed the insult at Essex MPP Taras Natyshak in front of the legislative assembly on Tuesday — the capper of a rant by Ford in which he scornfully, repeatedly called Natyshak a “tough guy” and challenged Natyshak to step outside.

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“He thinks he’s a big tough guy, but why doesn’t the big tough guy walk outside and make those accusations outside the door if he’s so tough?” Ford said.

“He’s not tough. He knows he doesn’t have a good enough lawyer to walk outside those doors.”

Reached on Wednesday, Natyshak called Ford’s taunts “a bizarre reaction.”

“I’ve sat as a member of the house for eight years, and I have never heard someone come so unhinged and unglued,” Natyshak said.

Ford’s tirade came after Natyshak questioned the premier on an open letter by ousted PC caucus member Randy Hillier.