Trudeaumania invaded city hall as the prime minister posed for endless selfies while wading through a crush of adoring fans, desperate cabbies and vocal marijuana advocates.

Amid the adoration Wednesday, including lavish praise from Toronto Mayor John Tory, Justin Trudeau left the city no wiser as to when it will get promised — and desperately needed — federal money to fix crumbling social housing, expand transit and more.

Trudeau launched the first official prime ministerial visit to City Hall since amalgamation in Nathan Phillips Square, posing with Tory in front of the popular TORONTO sign.

They moved inside at the centre of a mob of security officers and screaming well-wishers, including Ayaz Amlani, who was “amazed” he got beside the prime minister, who stopped to pose for a photo.

“He's one of the most influential people in the country, and he can do a lot to move the country forward,” Amlani said, as a nearby man repeatedly yelled: “Legalize marijuana now!”

Inside, loud cheers greeted Trudeau, from a sweater entrepreneur wearing a Trudeau portrait and a large group of cabbies who shouted “We love Justin” and “Take out Uber,” the car-hailing service they blame for decimating their business while the city formulates new rules.

Velda Foster kept her son Matthew, 15, out of school to see Trudeau. “When's this going to happen again?” she said. Her son is learning about Canadian politics at Malvern Collegiate. “It's kind of nice that we get to see who we've been learning about,” Matthew said.

Trudeau and Tory met privately in the mayor’s office, where, according to Tory’s staff, they spoke about transit, housing, infrastructure, Syrian refugees and climate change.







Tory told Trudeau he has proposed a new fund for transit and social housing needs, and that’s where Toronto wants the coming federal money to go. There were “nods” from Trudeau but no details or timelines, even as TCHC warns it will have to close decrepit social housing units and commuters can’t get on jam-packed subways.

During last year’s election, before Toronto votes helped land him a majority government, Trudeau promised to fund one-third, or $2.6 billion, of Tory’s $8 billion SmartTrack plan. Nationally, he pledged a total of $20 billion investment in social infrastructure spending over a decade.

Tory also presented Trudeau, a Montrealer, with a customized Maple Leafs jersey. A laughing Trudeau accepted the gift while displaying his Montreal Canadiens socks.

After more selfies with city staff and councillors, the mayor and the prime minister spoke and took questions on a stage in the City Hall rotunda.

Trudeau thanked Tory and “the entire city of Toronto” for leadership on welcoming Syrian refugees.

“The way we have collectively opened up our homes, our hearts, our wallets, our country to people who are fleeing horrible circumstances, is really a credit to Toronto, and by extension to all of Canada,” Trudeau said.

Asked about infrastructure funding, Trudeau would only say: “We're going to do this right, we're going to do this responsibly and we're going to get it done.”

Toronto is “ready to move” on housing and transit, Tory said, but he is satisfied with the new government’s progress.

The prime minister took questions on housing in Hamilton, trade with Saudi Arabia and more, but his aides cut off questions before reporters could ask about Toronto-specific issues.

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On his way out, Trudeau was stopped by taxi driver Paul Sekhon, who begged the Liberal leader to crack down on Uber — something the mayor has said wouldn’t be prudent while the city tries to regulate the tech upstart.

“After you, we have nobody else to believe in — just God,” Sekhon told the prime minister in the exchange captured by City News. Uber is operating illegally, Sekhon said, and “we support you from day one, and we will until the day we die.”

Trudeau listened intently, looking Sekhon in the eye, said “Thank you,” before striding toward the exit.

Highlights of Trudeau's visit to City Hall

With files from Jillian Kestler-D’Amours

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