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Kelly and other mayors to push Ottawa for infrastructure funds – Metro US

Kelly and other mayors to push Ottawa for infrastructure funds

Feeling Ottawa is ripe for the plucking, big city mayors descended on the national capital last night to push for infrastructure funds.

“We’re ready to go, and show us the money,” said Mayor Peter Kelly of the message he wants to get across. “We need to get underway with various infrastructure projects.”

He said Halifax and the other 21 big cities have a list of projects to deliver since the Conservatives promised to spend more infrastructure dollars to stimulate the economy.

Kelly said they’ll be meeting with the finance minister, transportation minister as well as NDP leader Jack Layton and Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff to press their case.

Kelly’s wish list includes a new downtown library, a field house at the Dar­mouth Sportsplex and renovations to the Metro Centre to name a few.

“And we have over $100 million worth of under­ground water and sewage projects,” Kelly said. “Our list is quite extensive.”

Whatever money the feds are willing to put forward, Kelly said they’re ready to take it and move ahead.

“The job-creation element is there, the investment in communities is there,” Kelly said.

And it’s a good deal for the province and the federal government because they’ll get returns on income and sales taxes, Kelly added.