Wow they were getting ready to ask the mayor only after going to the deputy mayor and finding that he didn't have authority despite their cope. Why do you always leave that part out ?
I am not clear on what you think that ads to the story? They went to Ford because he is the only person who can make the call.
Wouldn't the Province need the Province's resources for the rest of the Province?
Declaring an emergency gives the city the ability to offload the costs on the Province and the Feds.
From Ford's angle it makes it look like too many services were axed and that the city is incapable of handling something as simple as winter.
This seems like another argument that he is putting himself before the city.