Canada's big city mayors want infrastructure spending details from Liberals

Several high-profile Canadian mayors are in Ottawa to meet with the prime minister and six cabinet ministers, and one of their big goals isgetting more details on the Liberal government'spromised infrastructure funding.

During last year's election campaign the Liberals promised to spend $60 billion on infrastructure over 10years,a major plank of their platform because of the money involved and the need to go into a deficit to make it happen.

• Justin Trudeau says Liberals plan 3 years of deficits to push infrastructure
• 2-year plan to focus on repairs to crumbling infrastructure, minister says
• Alberta to get $700 million in infrastructure cash within 'weeks to months'

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Big City Mayors Caucusismeeting to talk about issues such as infrastructurewithsix federal ministers, includingSohi, in Ottawa Thursday and Friday.

Halifax Mayor Mike Savage said Thursday morningthey're excited about infrastructure funding commitments but are looking for some clarity on what cities can expect.

"Ithink what we need to know is how we can use it, when we can use it, what we can use it forwe're excited about the potential for infrastructure we just want to know more details about how we can use it," he said.

Nenshi gives his pitch

Infrastructure MinisterAmarjeetSohisaid last month in Torontothe first $10 billion will focus on projects in need of maintenance over the next two yearsand money will start going out to municipalities after their budgetis passed, hopefully before the summer construction season.

Prime Minister JustinTrudeausaid Wednesday in Edmonton thatAlberta will get $700 million in infrastructure money "immediately"to help its economy, which has been hit hard by falling oil prices.

Calgary Mayor NaheedNenshisaid in a speech at Ottawa City Hall thatnow is the time for the federal government to invest in infrastructure with a list of projects building up, people out of work and falling construction costs.

"If we get a commitment from the federal government we can have help wanted ads in the paper next week to make these things happen," he said in the speech.

"It's time to move forward on the stimulus.

Nenshi said he wants "block grants" from the federal government to get the money to municipalities without getting too involved with how to use it.

"That money comes with strict criteria on how you can spend it, stringent report-back procedures, but you municipal leaders understand where the money needs to be spent so spend it," he said.

"We're not going to let some bureaucrats in Ottawahave to decide on every single roof that needs patchingat every single arena across this country."

Long-term ask

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said he wants to see more than just a one-time deluge of infrastructuremoney.

"[What we're asking for is] very much in line with the other mayors[a] long term, predictable source of funding," he said after the speech.

"[We want money for] public transit, affordable housing and the types of infrastructure that are not particularly sexy but you need to replace that roof, put a new boiler on the community centre."

A representative of a local road and sewer construction group was at Ottawa City Hall to hear the speech and agreed, saying the trouble is getting consistent funding.

"Right now if they want to put a lump amount of money into the economy toward infrastructure to help the economy get moving, it's definitely a bonus," said Ivan Levac, past president of theNational Capital Heavy Construction Association.

"Hopefully in the long term we can look to reliable, consistent funding."

Some of the mayors are expected to talk to the media late Thursday afternoon after meetingwith Sohi.

They'll hold another news conference with TrudeauFriday morning on Parliament Hill.