Toronto city councillor Adam Vaughan has announced his intentions to run for the Liberals in the upcoming federal byelection for the downtown riding of Trinity-Spadina.

The riding was vacated by Olivia Chow in March after she announced her intentions to run in Toronto’s mayoral race against Rob Ford.

Vaughan has served in city council for Trinity-Spadina (Ward 20) since 2006 and has remained an outspoken critic of Mayor Rob Ford and his brother Counc. Doug Ford

Vaughan said he is prepared to take the next step in his political career and is focused on bringing issues such as low-income housing to the national stage.

“We have a housing crisis in Toronto, it’s time to talk about it federally,” he told CP24 Thursday afternoon.

“I want to go to Ottawa and I want to make sure that we un-elect Stephen Harper and that we elect Justin Trudeau,” he said.

“At some point you’ve got to stop pointing the finger at Ottawa and begging Ottawa to come to the table. At some point you got to go Ottawa and make it happen,” Vaughan added.

If nominated, Vaughan’s toughest opponent will be NDP candidate Joe Cressy, Chow’s former campaign strategist.

Cressy wished Vaughan luck on Twitter late Thursday afternoon.

Elections Canada has not yet announced a date for the by-election.

With files from CP24