Ford 'feeling fine' after kidney stone removed

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said Thursday he's "feeling well" after having a kidney stone

removed.

Ford made a brief appearance in front of reporters at city hall Thursday, and was met

with questions about transit funding and a proposal floated by his brother to give the

mayor veto power over council.

Regarding his health, Ford said he's "back in fighting form" after a "five-millimetre"

kidney stone he was unable to pass was removed on Wednesday.

"It was very painful and I'm glad it's out," Ford told reporters. "I've just got to

drink a lot of fluids. They're going to tell me what kind of stone it was and we'll

take it from there."

Ford also fielded reporters' questions about news that Ford was looking into the

possibility of securing private-sector funding to extend the Sheppard subway line.

The city approached Metrolinx, the province's regional transit planning authority, to

go ahead with the Sheppard project as an underground subway instead of the proposed

light rail.

Ford said he "can't really get into details" about the move to tap private funds.

"I said I'm going to be building subways and I am building subways," Ford said. "It's

in the works things are going well. I'm very sure we're going to get to building

Sheppard underground and Eglinton underground."

Former TTC board member Joe Mihevc was skeptical that private dollars would emerge to

help cover the difference between light rail and underground subways.

"That's going to be a price tag of over $4 billion," said Mihevc. "Is there billions of

dollars there? Will it get a shovel in the ground before the 2015 Pan-Am games and have

it done as promised as part of the Pan-Am bid process? These are the transit funding

questions Torontonians need to ask."

Ford was also asked about a proposal floated by his brother — Coun. Doug Ford —

suggesting the mayor be given veto power over council votes, as is done in Chicago and

other large U.S. cites..

Rob Ford tried to downplay the idea on Thursday. "I've always been happy with the power

the I have," said Ford. "I think my brother might be spending too much time in

Chicago."

When pressed further for his opinion, Ford suggested reporters should "ask Doug" about

the proposal. That triggered questions about Ford using his brother to field media

calls instead of answering reporters' questions himself. Ford denied dodging the media.

"My brother is not the mouthpiece," said Ford. "I'm always available. It's hard to hide

300 pounds of fun."