Notley, Nenshi nudge Trudeau with federal budget wants

A cool $1 billion for infrastructure and changes to the employment insurance program that's at the top of Alberta Premier Rachel Notley's wishlist for the federal budget coming Tuesday.

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Notley, speaking following a meeting with business leaders and non-profits in Calgary Friday, says it's time funds flowed into the province given the current bleak economic environment.

"[EIprograms have] pretty large price tags attached to them as well and so those are the first items we have identified because those are focused on immediately supporting families who have lost their jobs and immediately supporting the ability to create new jobs through infrastructure and that is what drives our ask."

Her call comes on the heels of her Saskatchewan counterpart laying out his demands earlier this week.

Brad Wall said Wednesday he'd like to see Saskatchewan get at least $570 million in new funding, which isthe amount Saskatchewan will pay into equalization this year.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said he's looking for a little less red tape.

"I'm very, very hopeful that the prime minister and his cabinet will keep their promise towards more infrastructure spending that is just not about the numbers," Nenshi said.

"It is very, very important that the money flow quickly with the fewest criteria possible so we can get people to work right away."

The federal budget, Justin Trudeau's first, will be announced Tuesday. Trudeau campaigned on running a deficit to allow for "investment" in the Canadian economy.

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