[Minnie]

The premier speaks about the situation

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said Thursday the province may consider intervening in the scandal surrounding Toronto Mayor Rob Ford if city council makes the request, leaving it up to councillors to decide how to proceed with efforts to strip the mayor of his powers.

Thursday was the first time Wynne hinted at any involvement by the province in the scandal that has dominated business at Toronto city hall. The Liberal premier’s comments came a day after new allegations against the mayor came to light, including drunk driving and sniffing cocaine.

Wynne said that if Toronto city council were to indicate that it lacked the ability to function because of the ongoing scandal, the province would respond to a request to provide “new tools, depending on what that request may be.

“Events continue to move quickly and the things that we are hearing and seeing about mayor Rob ford are truly disturbing,” Wynne said.

Wynne didn’t specify what exactly the province could do if council asked it to step in. She did say if any action were to happen, “because of the extraordinary and unique nature of any intervention from the province, I would consult with the other party leaders to see if the legislature could move unanimously if required.

“The last thing that this terrible situation needs is an overlay of partisan politics,” she said.