Premier Wynne won’t meet with Mayor Ford

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne will not meet with Mayor Rob Ford this week after he requested the two sit down face to face to discuss ice storm relief.

During a news conference on Wednesday, she repeatedly told reporters that she continues to meet with Norm Kelly because Toronto council had decided to strip the mayor of most of his powers and vest the leadership and authority with the deputy mayor.

“I’m working with the city in the way Toronto council prefers so I will continue to meet with the deputy mayor,” she said.

Ford said Tuesday he wanted to meet with the premier to discuss the city’s proposal for ice storm relief after city council voted unanimously to ask the provincial and federal governments for a minimum of $114 million in financial assistance to cover cleanup and recovery costs associated with the two big storms of 2013. The recovery efforts of both the Dec. 21 ice storm and July 8 storm total $171-million.

“I want to sit down and ask her face to face if she can help us out with the funding and hopefully she will say yes,” Ford said.

In a statement released Tuesday evening, the premier’s office said Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Linda Jeffrey was closely monitoring the situation and that she will be attending a meeting scheduled on Friday with mayors from across the GTA, including Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, to discuss presenting a combined request to the province for financial aid.

“Our government and Minister Jeffrey will continue to work with municipal councils on their requests for assistance,” the statement read.

Wynne has stated in the past said that she recognizes Kelly as the point man for anything to do with Toronto.

As of Tuesday, 48 of the 160 zones across Toronto had been cleared of debris.

Cleanup efforts are expected to last eight weeks.

Read the complete statement from the premier’s office below.

Since December 21st our Government, under the leadership of Premier Wynne has been actively working to help those most affected by the ice storm.  The Ministries of Health, Community and Social Services, Community Safety and Correctional Services, Natural Resources, and Transportation have been working closely with officials on the ground and providing resources and support to those in need.
 
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has been engaged with all affect municipalities and is closely monitoring the situation.  At this time we understand a number of municipal councils have voted on motions asking for their municipality to be declared a disaster area.

The Ministry has already begun the process of assessing the requests of the municipalities that are seeking ODRAP and will begin the process with Toronto as soon as possible.  The Ministry is also working to put together Provincial Disaster Assessment Teams and our first team is already on the ground with more to follow in affected areas.

Minister Jeffrey is meeting with municipal leaders on Friday to discuss the response to the ice storm.   Our government and Minister Jeffrey will continue to work with municipal councils on their requests for assistance.

Click here to view a map of the city’s cleanup effort.