Canada’s police service doesn’t much like it when Prime Minister Stephen Harper takes public transit, underground or otherwise.

“I think the RCMP prefers I not use any of these facilities at the present time,” said Harper, rather dryly for a man with an entourage, while in Toronto on Friday.

But if he had to choose sides in the ongoing subways vs. LRT debate — and these days, most people are being asked to choose sides — the Prime Minister offered an ode to the tunnel.

“As a one-time commuter in this city, someone who grew up here, someone who spent a lot of time here on business in recent years, I prefer, when I want to use public transit, to go underground unimpeded,” Harper said to a crescendo of applause, with unknown volume levels coming from Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.

“When I want to use my car, I prefer not to be running into LRTs and streetcars. But you know, that’s just a personal view. We don’t make these decisions for municipalities and provinces.”

While Harper didn’t offer new funding or hint at money to come, that didn’t stop Ford from declaring victory — at least in the slogan sense.

“An overwhelming number of people want subways,” Ford said.

“The Prime Minister wants subways.”

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