On Monday, the speech from the throne will acknowledge the challenges facing Canada's cities. The Chrétien government will outline a long-term strategy for urban development that will include a commitment to provide stable funding for essential municipal services such as roads, transit systems and safe drinking water.

Sources say the federal contribution would be worth as much as $600 million each year for the next 10 to 15 years

But the new money won't address the imbalance between cities and other levels of government.

Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli says the new developments in his city are both a blessing and a curse: they bolster an already vital downtown core, but they also add to the stress facing the city's transit system and the congestion on downtown streets.

Chiarelli says the federal approach to cities has been ad hoc, a succession of one-time-only infrastructure programs. He and other mayors want a much longer commitment.

"Quite frankly the strategic infrastructure is limited to three years and that's it. We can't plan anything else because we don't have the flow of funds for the 10-, 15-, 20-year windows of planning."

The speech from the throne will address that demand.

Toronto MP Judy Sgro chaired a Liberal task force on Canada's cities. She says they are plagued by traffic gridlock, poor air and water quality, and a growing numbers of homeless.

"We cannot abdicate our responsibilities," she said. "There's a role there to play. The affordable housing is critical, as we do immigration. Transit is going to be key to meet our commitment to the environment. And investment in infrastructure helps to ensure that Canada is positioned globally."

The statistics bear out the attention to urban issues.

Eighty per cent of Canadians now live in cities, which generate about half of the country's economic activity. Sgro says the country's urban reality isn't understood properly by the federal government.

"We have a minister of fisheries, we have a minister of agriculture, ministers of a whole lot of things that affect rural Canada. Who speaks for urban Canada? We don't look at things through an urban lens as we develop our federal policies."

Industry Minister Allan Rock is in charge of Ottawa's infrastructure spending. He wouldn't address specifics, but signalled that Sgro's demand for an urban strategy will be addressed.

The throne speech will also pledge to assist municipalities in providing safe drinking water, but it won't target other critical problems such as the shortage of affordable housing.

The last budget set aside $680 million for housing. Public Works Minister Ralph Goodale says little of that money has been spent.

Cities are responsible for providing most of the basic public services such as roads, sewers and welfare, while the federal and provincial governments get most of the tax revenues.

Paul Martin is promising a 'new deal' for cities if he's chosen to replace Jean Chrétien as Liberal leader.

But the throne speech won't address that proposal.