OTTAWA — The country’s big-city mayors are urging the federal government to help municipalities deal with affordable housing shortages and decaying transportation infrastructure.
Even Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who has never before attended a Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference, is seeking for money for transit.
Ford is also looking to stop Canada Post from ending home mail delivery and is getting support from his fellow mayors, who passed a resolution asking the post office to hold off until municipal concerns are addressed.
Vancouver’s Gregor Robertson, chairman of the Big City Mayors’ Caucus, says the housing crunch and traffic gridlock are hurting cities.
The mayors are urging the federal government to ensure that the lion’s chare of the new Building Canada Fund goes to cities.
They also want Ottawa to produce a long-term housing plans for next year’s budget.