Mayors from across the country have made their pitches for federal cash to stimulate their local economies.

The gathering was held in Ottawa on Thursday morning and Calgary's mayor was in attendance.

Mayor Bronconnier says Calgary is no different than any other major city and it needs federal help to create jobs. "Even in Alberta, thousands of jobs have been lost in the last 30 days alone," says Bronconnier.

The most expensive items on Calgary's wish list include:

$550-million for an LRT tunnel under Stephen Avenue

$1.2-billion for a southeast LRT line

$100-million for recreation centres

$300-million for an organic waste conversion facility

$100-million for upgrades to Macleod Trail

$157-million for a new city administration building

If the mayor gets everything he asks for, it will add up to just over $3-billion.

Bronconnier says he, like all the other mayors in attendance, is hoping the federal government makes its funding decisions soon and makes access to the infrastructure cash easy. "We are here in a very coordinated response to deal in a partnership approach similar to the gas-tax model which is a formula that is approved - you could take that off the shelf rather than waiting a year to negotiate an agreement," says Bronconnier.

The federal government is promising speedy action. "All you need to do is give me a one-page letter. Tell me what you want to spend it on for us to consider and approve," says John Baird, the transport, infrastructure and communities minister.

For more information about what Bronconnier is asking the federal government for, click on the City of Calgary link to the right.