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 andI'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 fieldedreporters' questions about news that Ford was looking into the possibility of securing private-sector fundingto 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 memberJoe 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."