Rob Ford criticizes Tory for going to Ottawa, ‘badgering’ federal MPs

WATCH ABOVE: Rob Ford slams Tory for heading to Ottawa

TORONTO – Mayor John Tory is heading to Ottawa Tuesday to meet with Justin Trudeau, Tom Mulcair, the infrastructure minister and several other MPs in his bid to get more federal funding for public transit in Toronto.

Tory spoke to reporters at city hall Tuesday morning shortly before getting on a Porter Airlines flight to the nation’s capital. He said his meetings are intended to introduce federal politicians to SmartTrack as well as convince them the city needs dedicated public transit funding.

“The federal government really needs to be in partnership with us on a consistent, predictable basis,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The federal government really needs to be in partnership with us on a consistent, predictable basis," he said.

But Councillor Rob Ford criticized Tory for spending money flying to Ottawa with three staff, suggesting he only needed him, his brother Doug Ford, and one staff member.

The former mayor also suggested federal politicians know what Tory wants, so he shouldn’t need to go to Ottawa.

“How many meetings do you have to have? I had two meetings with the late James Flaherty, I talked to the prime minster in more of a casual setting. When people know what you want, they’re either going to give it to you or not. But to go up there and badger them, getting in their face,” Ford said.

“They know what he wants.”

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Tory pitched his SmartTrack plan to Prime Minister Stephen Harper during a meeting in December.

“I wouldn’t hesitate to comment favourably on policies that I think are responsive to the needs of the city of Toronto because I think it’s my job,” he said.  “As for my getting involved deeply in federal politics in any which way, I have enough complications here at city hall dealing with municipal politics and I don’t think I’ll be venturing too far into federal politics.”

Toronto has a host of public transit projects that need funding over the next decade including Tory’s $8 billion SmartTrack plan, and a relief line. The federal government has invested in Toronto’s transit recently, committing $660 million for the extension of the Bloor-Danforth extension into Scarborough.