Rob Ford wants Toronto residents who are in favour of building a new, multi-million dollar gaming facility to speak up at public input sessions being held all over the city.

On Sunday's edition of NEWSTALK 1010's The City, Ford urged proponents not to be intimidated by those who say the casino should be built somewhere else, or not at all.

"They're going to have special interest groups (at the public consultations) who say 'no, no, no, no," says Ford.

The mayor blames a familiar foe for all the negativity.

"It always seem like the left-wing councillors are anti-business and anything for revenue, they just 'spend, spend, spend," he says.

Public input sessions wrap up on January 19th.