Toronto Mayor Rob Ford stands by “every word” he said in a TV interview in which he appeared to infer that a Toronto Star reporter is a pedophile.

Ford was asked about the interview with former media baron Conrad Black during a news conference Tuesday afternoon that focused on the city budget.

“I stand by every word I said with Mr. Black in my interview,” Ford said, before quickly exiting the news conference.

During the TV interview, which aired Monday night, Black asked Ford about his privacy and media scrutiny. Ford spoke about a May 2012 incident in which he confronted Star reporter Daniel Dale, who was on public land near his Etobicoke home, working on a story about Ford trying to buy public land.

“I guess the worst one was Daniel Dale in my backyard taking pictures,” Ford said. “I have little kids. When a guy’s taking pictures of little kids, I don’t want to say that word but you start thinking, ‘What’s this guy all about?’”

Dale has denied setting foot on Ford’s property. He also denied taking any pictures, and a police investigator found no evidence that he had. In an interview with The Canadian Press Tuesday, Dale called Ford’s comments to Black “categorically false.”

“It’s amazing. I don’t know what to say about it,” Dale said. “In the calmest terms possible, it is unpleasant when the mayor of the biggest city in Canada essentially accuses you, or suggests, you are a pedophile.”

In a later interview with CP24, Dale called Ford’s comments “defamatory” and said he’s considering possible legal action, but has not made any decision.

“I did talk today to a Star lawyer about my options here,” he said.

In the much-hyped interview with Black, who now hosts a weekly program called The Zoomer, Ford also said a police investigation that involved following him and his associates was “political.”

“If I’ve done something illegal, I’ve told the police to arrest me,” Ford told Black at his city hall office. The interview was taped last Friday and aired Monday night.

Ford said he supports Toronto’s police officers, but has “an issue” with Chief Bill Blair.

“I’d like to know how much money he spent surveilling me,” he said.

Ford also said that police “used Lisi as a prop to get to me,” referring to his friend and former driver Alexander Lisi, who faces drug and extortion charges.

Ford, who has admitted to smoking crack while in one of his “drunken stupors,” said he has “never once been inebriated here at council.”

He also said he hasn’t touched alcohol in five weeks and is hitting the gym in order to lose weight, which he believes will help people perceive him differently.

Ford even offered to do a urine test “right now” to prove his system is free of drugs and alcohol.

“If they want me to do a drug test, a urine test, I’ll do one right now,” Ford said. “If there are any drugs in my system, any alcohol in my system, I have no problem doing that test.”

Black responded by saying: “Rob, there’s absolutely no need to do a urine test right now.” The two men then shared a laugh.

Throughout the interview, Ford slammed the media for its coverage of the scandal and for following him around. Black, who served time in a U.S. prison for fraud and obstruction of justice, was sympathetic.

Ford also touted his accomplishments at city hall, saying: “I know I’ve run this city better than any mayor ever has.”

On Tuesday, Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly responded to Ford's comments on the police chief, calling them "regrettable."

"I think that's regrettable because it doesn't bring any further insights into the matter, and it politicizes the issue rather than coming with grips seriously and personally with it," Kelly said.

He added that despite Ford's suggestions that the police chief was acting politically when the police began to investigate his behaviour, the mayor and his brother, Coun. Doug Ford, still have the right to participate in the police budget debate. "But one would wish that they would participate in a way that offers insights rather than recriminations."

The deputy mayor also suggested that the constant media attention given to the mayor may be spurring Ford on.

"If the media didn't follow the mayor as closely as it has, I think it would take the oxygen out of the room and might preclude the mayor from making statements like that," he said. "The close attention that has been paid to the mayor's behaviour and to his comments tends to give them life … so it's almost a double-edged sword."

Ford has shot to worldwide fame in recent months for an ever-growing controversy that has included an admission that he once smoked crack cocaine, and allegations from former staffers that include drinking and driving, crude comments toward female staff members and other erratic behaviours.

In several recent media interviews, Ford has said he has stopped drinking and is turning his health around with the help of “a team of healthcare professionals.”

Toronto city council also voted last month to strip Ford of most of his powers and hand the reins to the deputy mayor.

Ford told Black that he thinks the move was “completely illegal” and suggested that council is taking advantage of the situation to raise spending.

“Basically, in two weeks, they’ve got back on the gravy train,” he said.

The interview was originally scheduled to air on Dec. 16, but was pushed up due to widespread interest.

In the interview with Black, Ford also said that he feels “very confident” about his re-election, despite his admissions that he’s smoked crack cocaine and bought illegal drugs while in office.

“If there was an election today, I’d feel very confident,” Ford said, noting that everywhere he goes, people want to take pictures with him.