TORONTO, Jan. 9.2004, Canada NewsWire - Mayor David Miller announced today that the mayors of Canada's ten major cities have been invited to Toronto to plan a strategy for approaching the federal government on funding and support for urban issues.

The meeting has been set for the evening of January 22 and all day on January 23, and it will be held at the Hotel Intercontinental, Toronto Centre. The meeting takes place slightly more than a week ahead of the federal government's throne speech on February 2nd. The mayors of Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and Halifax have been invited. Mayor Miller will chair the meeting.

"Canada's largest cities understand that the wealth we produce is shared with all the people of Canada, and that the success of the country as a whole is linked to our success," Mayor Miller said. "However, to ensure that wealth is actually created, we need the legal ability to manage our responsibilities, and we need immediate action from senior levels of government on proper funding and infrastructure."

Issues on the agenda may include public transit, affordable housing, settlement of new immigrants and residents, and legislative changes needed to support revenue generation and infrastructure. Compared to major urban centres in the United States and Europe, Canada's hub cities have fewer sources of revenue, receive less financial assistance from senior orders of government, and enjoy less legislative autonomy.

"We are the centres of economic, social and cultural development, and we contribute to the high quality of life enjoyed by all Canadians," said Mayor Miller. "It is very exciting that we will be working together at this meeting to promote a common urban agenda - one that cannot and should not be ignored by senior levels of government."