Mayor Rob Ford is defending his brother’s Port Lands vision, admitting the venture could bring more money into the cash-strapped city than the original plan endorsed by council last year.

“You don’t get jobs having 400 acres of parkland. Parks are beautiful. We have tons of parks, but unfortunately, that tree can’t employ anybody,” said Ford, pointing to a wooded area in Colonel Danforth Park Thursday evening.

Ford said the city could use more development projects like the proposed mega-mall, ferris wheel and monorail along Toronto’s eastern waterfront as a way to generate revenue.

“As a businessman, I have the experience of creating jobs, meeting payrolls, and I understand how the real world works, the business world,” Ford said.

His comments came after Westfield Group, an Australian shopping centre developer, admitted to “preliminary” and “exploratory” meetings with city officials to discuss building in the Port Lands, without registering as a lobbyist.