Mayors looking for federal infrastructure dollars
Posted Nov 15, 2012 2:18 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Canada’s big cities mayors want more money for infrastructure.
Meeting in Ottawa, they are calling for an annual $2.5-billion increase in federal infrastructure funding for the next 20 years to fix roads and bridges that are falling apart.
The mayors, including Calgary’s Naheed Nenshi, also want to see a two tiered system, a straight-up grant, and a dedicated public transit fund.
Nenshi says Calgary alone has $8 to 9 billion in unfunded transit priorities, not to mention other transportation and community infrastructure needs.
“Certainly the federal government has been much more active in major public transit projects in other parts of the country than they have been in Calgary. Given the way that Calgarians tend to vote and given where the Prime Minister is from, one would think they would have more of an understanding of the needs of Calgary,” said Nenshi.
He adds the economy grows when transportation needs are met, because instead of being stuck in traffic, motorists can be at work.
