FCM president and mayors relieved by infrastructure funding extension

The president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities says mayors across the country are relieved that the federal government has committed to extending a major infrastructure fund.

Infrastructure Minister Denis Lebel announced at the federation’s annual convention in Saskatoon yesterday that the seven-year, $33-billion fund begun in 2007 will continue past 2014.

Federation president Berry Vrbanovic says there was anxiety among the mayors over how the program was coming along.

Lebel said he will chair a series of roundtable discussions across the country over the summer to gather views from municipalities, corporations and the public on Canada’s infrastructure needs.