

Chris Kitching and Chris Fox, CP24.com





Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is insisting politics has nothing to do with her decision to meet with Toronto’s deputy mayor instead of its mayor to talk about issues such as December’s ice storm.

A day after Mayor Rob Ford publicly requested a meeting with Wynne to discuss ice storm aid, the premier turned him down, saying she recognizes Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly as the head of city council because council gave him the "responsibilities and authority" of leadership.

Wynne denied Ford’s claim that her refusal to meet with him is based on political differences.

“This isn’t about a political grudge,” Wynne told reporters at a news conference where the Grape Growers of Ontario celebrated a record harvest and ice wine season.

Ford said Tuesday he wants to meet with Wynne so he can personally request provincial funding for the storm cleanup. The mayor said Wynne should be meeting with him because he is the “elected head of council.”

Wynne and Ford have not met since council stripped the mayor of key powers in November after he admitted to smoking crack cocaine and was accused of outrageous behaviour.

Speaking with reporters at city hall Wednesday, Ford said Wynne is letting down city residents by refusing to meet with him.

“If she doesn’t want to meet with me, she doesn’t have to meet with me but she is letting the people of this great city down and that’s all she is doing,” Ford said.

Earlier this week, council approved a motion to ask the province to declare the city a disaster area so it is eligible for provincial money.

The city is asking the provincial and federal governments to split the $171 million cost of the ice storm and a rain storm last July.

As the province considers the request, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Linda Jeffrey is expected to attend a meeting Friday with Ford and other GTA mayors who are requesting financial aid.

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