Doug Ford, who is struggling in public-opinion polls, insists federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is not "distancing himself" from an unpopular Ontario premier with an election looming.

Ford told reporters Friday in Kitchener that he has a "good" rapport with Scheer.

"I've talked to Andrew and I'm the premier of Ontario and I've got to worry about Ontario. I'm not getting involved in this election," he said.

Asked why Scheer - who did an event at Mount Sinai Hospital last Friday that was 850 metres from the premier's office at Queen's Park and refused to even mention his name despite being asked repeatedly about him - Ford shrugged.

"I don't know about distancing himself. You can say that about me, too. You could say I'm distancing myself from the federal government and this election," the premier said.

"I'm not interested in this election. I'm interested in Ontario."

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With voters headed to the polls on Oct. 21, Ford decreed that the provincial legislature, which had been scheduled to resume Sept. 9, will not return until Oct. 28.

Scheer's campaign team had hoped that would keep the premier out of the daily media cycle.

But the premier's penchant for grabbing headlines has a tendency to swamp the more low-key Scheer's message.

As the Star first revealed in June, federal Conservative candidates have complained that Ford's policies are causing them grief at doorsteps.

Scheer has strived to counter the impression that he would govern in a similar manner to the premier.

"I am my own person. I have my own style. I have my own approach. We're going to be laying out our own policies," the federal Tory leader told the Star one day after attack ads aired during the Toronto Raptors' championship run depicted him a Ford puppet.

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"Look, the difference in this federal election is going to be between myself and Justin Trudeau," said Scheer.

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