Mayoral candidate Doug Ford says he will make repairing Toronto Community Housing Corporation buildings his “top priority” if he is elected on Oct. 27.

Ford made the comment to reporters after touring a TCHC building near Moss Park Thursday morning, noting that the repair backlog at the city-run agency needs to be tackled immediately in order to “protect the most vulnerable members of society.”

“The Toronto Community Housing Corporation is turning the corner and things are getting better but our TCHC stock is in desperate need of attention,” Ford said. “I will work with the council to tackle these issues head-on, I will lead a top to bottom of review of TCHC operations to make sure taxpayers money is being invested wisely and I will put every penny we save straight into repairs and I will do this because it is the right thing to do. It is our responsibility.”

In November, city council unanimously approved a $2.6 billion, 10-year plan to repair hundreds of aging Toronto Community Housing Corporation buildings; however the plan relies on all three levels of government splitting the cost equally and neither the feds or the province have committed to that as of yet.

Speaking with reporters, Ford noted that council has committed $128 million towards repairs this year and $175 million in 2015 but he said the city has to do more.

Ford then went on to take a swipe at his main political rival John Tory, who last week told reporters that he would invest the city’s one-third share of the $2.6 billion capital plan immediately and then “shame” other levels of government into coming to the table. Tory also promised to conduct a review of TCHC operations with a report deadline of six months.

“John tory thinks Toronto is helpless. He wants you to believe that the only option is going hat in hand to the other levels of government and asking them for money,” Ford said. “We obviously need them behind us but I also know that we can do a lot of good on our own.”

Elsewhere on the campaign trail today, all three major candidates will participate in a debate hosted by the CBC at 7:30 p.m.

Remember for instant breaking news follow @cp24 on Twitter.