Greater Toronto municipalities will learn this week how much financial help is coming from Queen’s Park to help pay for ice storm damage, says Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Wynne emerged from a 45-minute meeting Monday with Toronto Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly, promising some answers soon for GTA mayors.

“We will be bringing forward our response before March 1, which means this week,” the premier told reporters.

Some 20 GTA mayors and regional chairs have together asked for $250 million in provincial funding to make repairs caused by the Christmas ice storm.

Toronto alone is seeking $106 million for the December disaster as well as $65 million to cover the flooding last July.

The province has appealed to Ottawa for federal assistance.

Wynne met with Kelly at Queen’s Park because council has stripped titular Mayor Rob Ford of most decision-making powers after he finally admitted to crack cocaine use.

Ford is also under Toronto police investigation involving links to an alleged drug dealer.

“I am working with the representative of the city of Toronto who has the responsibility for decision-making as per decisions by council,” the premier said when asked about the mayor’s absence.

“I have worked with all the representatives who have been elected in their various jurisdictions. I will continue to do that.”

Kelly, for his part, said he and Wynne have a good working relationship.

“The premier and I share a deep affection for the city of Toronto and an enthusiasm to grow the city. There’s remarkable potential here in the city that has to either be unlocked or channelled. I think in these two meetings we’ve planted seeds that will . . . prove productive — you’ll see green sprouts in the very near future,” the deputy mayor said.

“I’m delighted the premier has been so co-operative and so focused on these deliberations.”

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