NDP Leader Jack Layton questioned the Harper government's plans to boost infrastructure spending, saying municipalities, territories and provinces aren't getting the help they need fast enough.

The government's plan to release $12 billion in infrastructure funding over two years is getting bogged down by red tape, Layton said Monday.

The government is expecting provinces, territories and municipalities to come up with $11.8 billion in matching funds before it loosens the purse strings.

Speaking at question period following a two-week break in the House of Commons, Layton said 90 per cent of the funding has not yet been allocated.

Transportation Minister John Baird said the government was working as quickly as possible to come up with agreements on matching funds.

"We've got good partnerships with the provinces — where we're able to turn one dollar into two or three so we can create two or three times as many jobs and two or three times as much hope," said Baird.

Diane Finley, minister of human resources and skills development, noted the government just gave municipalities details on how to access $2 billion in low-cost loans for housing-related infrastructure projects.

But Layton said municipalities haven't got the funds to match the federal dollars. He said the Conservatives are "going to try to force municipalities to borrow money from the federal government in order to come up with their share."

"That is no way to build a country," Layton said. "When is this government going to eliminate this ridiculous condition, which is going to mean that we will simply not be creating jobs in construction this construction season?"

An officer with the Privy Council Office said earlier in April it was too early to say how much the provinces were willing to contribute in matching funds. He suggested things would become clearer in June, well into the construction season.