Premier Wynne will talk with Kelly not Rob Ford

WATCH: Premier Kathleen Wynne shoots down a meeting with Rob Ford. Jackson Proskow reports. 

TORONTO – Mayor Rob Ford thinks it is “very disappointing” that Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne will not talk to him, choosing instead to discuss ice storm relief with deputy mayor Norm Kelly.

“I would like to remind Premier Wynne that I remain the head of Council and official representative of the City of Toronto,” he said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon. “These powers can only be removed by the residents of Toronto at the next general election.”

Wynne said earlier Wednesday that she will continue to speak with Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly.

“I am meeting with the deputy mayor because Toronto city council made a decision about the authority of leadership at city hall,” said Wynne following a press conference in Toronto on the state of Ontario’s wine industry Wednesday.

Ford said on Tuesday he wanted a meeting with the Ontario premier to request funding to cover the cost of last month’s ice storm.

“I don’t have time to meet everyone. The city has given Norm Kelly the authority and responsibility,” said Wynne when asked by a member of the media if she plans to entertain Ford’s request.

City council voted 39-0 on Monday to declare the city a disaster area which allows Toronto to ask for money from the federal and provincial governments to help with storm cleanup costs.

READ MORE: Ice storm: Toronto council votes 39-0 to ask for funding relief

Ford was stripped of most of his powers last fall by city council after court documents revealed he had been under surveillance by police and after he publicly admitted to smoking crack cocaine.

Deputy mayor Kelly picked up the slack by taking over many of the mayor’s responsibilities.

However, Ford still has the ability to declare a state of emergency, which he did not call during the ice storm.

Meanwhile, the mayor’s relationship with Wynne has been less than rosy but the premier insists there’s no problem.

“This isn’t about a political grudge,” Wynne said.