New Toronto mayor Ford sworn in

Rob Ford was sworn in Tuesday as mayor of Toronto, promising big changes in the way the city is run and a municipal government that will recognize that the taxpayer is supreme.

City Clerk Ulli Watkiss administered the declaration of office and Ford officially became the 64th mayor of Canada's largest city.

Well-known hockey commentator Don Cherry was Ford's special guest at the ceremony and even placed the chain of office around the mayor's neck.

Cherry donned a pink floral-print jacket for the ceremony, saying he was wearing pink "for all the pinkos out there that ride bicycles." He made the comment in response to what he called "left-wing" criticism about his appearance at the event.

In his speech to the assembled crowd of friends and family which filled the public gallery in the council chamber as well as those who crowded into the rotunda of city hall Ford laid out what he called his "four core priorities."

Customer service will be the top of the agenda, according to Ford.

He also wants to make municipal government more transparent and accountable, reduce the size and cost of government.

"Our fourth priority is a transportation city plan.Transportation is just not transit. We will expand our focus that will include people who use transit and also motorists, commercial vehicle operators, cyclists and pedestrians," said Ford.

He also promised voters that he will push the new city council to deliver on what they have demanded.

"Much has changed," said Ford, "and more will change."

"It is an ambitious agenda and we will depend on this council for leadership."

Ford said that means leading by example and repeated his promise to cut councillors' budgets and to reduce spending "at council and across all city departments.It is only fair and just. It's time city hall shared the burden we impose on taxpayers."

Earlier in the day, Ford won a commitment from Ontario's governing Liberals to help Toronto cover the cost of administering welfare, but it doesn't appear that there's a deal on the fate of a multibillion-dollar transit plan.

Met with premier

Ford emerged from a brief meeting with Premier Dalton McGuinty with a welfare deal, but wouldn't say whether the province has agreed to fund his subway-based transit plan.

Ford said McGuinty agreed to pony up the $52 million his government promised the city for administering welfare this year, and to stop collecting the city's $60 vehicle registration tax starting Jan. 1.

Ford wouldn't discuss the details of his meeting with McGuinty. The two exchanged pleasantries in a photo opportunity for the media, but any serious discussion was done behind closed doors.

"We had a very productive meeting and we're going to have a very good working relationship," Ford said.

Ford wants to kill Transit City, a $8.15-billion plan to build four light-rail lines that is almost entirely funded by the province, and extend the subway east instead.

But the province has made it clear that while they're willing to talk about the plan, they've already signed contracts worth $1.3 billion and won't pay the tab for any cancellation fees.

The government has also suggested that they'll only negotiate if city council approves Ford's plan, but the new mayor made it clear that he doesn't need the 44-member council's support.

Ford announced last week he wants to pursue subway construction instead of Transit City.

Ford's brother, Doug, said that will be a key issue during the first few months of the new administration.

"The gravy train has stopped and a new train has pulled in and it's called a subway train," he said.