TORONTO - The federal transportation minister says cities need to work with other levels of government and the private sector if they want to alleviate gridlock in urban centres.
Lawrence Cannon says the government has pledged $33 billion for improvements, but that cities have to get the ball rolling by breaking ground first.
Cannon also dismisses a new report from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities that says the municipal infrastructure deficit in cities across the country has grown to $123 billion.
He says the Conservative government has invested more cash into transport infrastructure than any other government over the past fifty years.
He also says Ottawa will be flexible when it comes to sketching out a strategy to refurbish Toronto's Union Station, which is among the busiest transport centres in the country.
Cannon says he wants to reassure Canadians that there is money available for transportation infrastructure and that Ottawa is "open for business."
