TORONTO, Ont. – Victims of superstorm Sandy south of the border will be receiving some aid from Ontario as they begin to clean up the mess.

Premier Dalton McGuinty said Americans were there for residents of eastern Ontario during the ice storm of 1998, and now it’s time to return the favour.

“The aftermath of the ice storm, it was great to see our American cousins up there with their trucks, their workers, their equipment, doing what they could to help us, so we made it clear to them we’ve contacted folks in New York in particular, in New Jersey, if there’s anything at all that we can do, by way of sending our folks from Hydro One down,” he said, Wednesday.

He added that Hydro One has expertise in rural and forested areas.

Meanwhile, at Toronto City Hall, council has voted in favour of offering assistance to New York City, with the city manager expected to make a formal offer of help to that city’s officials.

The help could include expertise from both Toronto Hydro and the TTC with repairs to the New York electrical and subway systems.

The only councillor to vote against the motion was budget chief Mike del Grande.