SARNIA, Ont. -- Premier Kathleen Wynne appears to be backing off her tough talk about possibly intervening at Toronto city hall if Mayor Rob Ford doesn't deal with his personal problems.
Wynne's comment Thursday that she would take action to deal with the controversy surrounding Ford if and when it is appropriate angered many city councillors, including the mayor's brother.
Doug Ford angrily called Wynne an unelected premier and said she should get her own house in order before getting involved in the city's business.
The controversy followed Wynne to Sarnia today, where the first questions from local reporters were whether the premier had stepped over the line with her comments about taking action.
Wynne insists all she said was that there is legislation that prescribes when and if there would be any change in the relationship between the municipality and the Ontario government.
Asked if Rob Ford has her confidence to continue as mayor of Toronto, Wynne said she wasn't going to pass judgment on that.
Critics point out there is very little Wynne or the provincial government could do about Ford unless he was physically unable to do his job, and even then it would be up to Toronto city council to deal with the problem, not the province.
The premier said Thursday she was worried international news coverage of allegations Ford was video taped smoking what appeared to be crack cocaine was undermining the public's confidence in their municipal government.
