Canada's fiscal stimulus package could include some of the C$13 billion ($10.4 billion) worth of "shovel-ready" infrastructure projects that have been identified by cities nationwide, a group representing municipal governments said on Wednesday.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities produced a list of 1,100 projects that it said could create over 150,000 jobs in 2009.
Most of the projects on the list are small or medium-sized and focus on repair or rehabilitation work, meaning they do not trigger lengthy environmental assessment reviews. They are advanced enough that they could get under way this year if Ottawa unlocked its share of financing, the group said.
"What's required now is the political will to flow money quickly to cities and communities so more of these fast-track projects can get under way this spring," the FCM said in a statement.
"But time is running out - the government must start flowing funds in the Jan. 27, 2009 federal budget," it said.
Traditionally, municipalities are responsible for financing one-third of their infrastructure projects while the provincial and federal levels of government also provide a third each. Provincial-level projects are financed 50-50 by the provinces and Ottawa.
Transport Minister John Baird said on Wednesday the provinces have committed to ramping up their infrastructure spending along with Ottawa.
