The mayors of Canada's biggest cities have unanimously approved a plan to prod the federal government to correct the fiscal imbalance they see between Ottawa and their municipalities.

Mayors of 22 cities met in Toronto on Wednesday to talk about the imbalance — echoing a chronic complaint of provincial governments in an era of federal budget surpluses — and about the role they want Ottawa to play in improving urban life.

Their plan stresses the need to share tax revenues that grow with the economy, to align roles and responsibilities with financial resources and to establish a national transit program.

The mayors, gathered in a meeting led by Toronto Mayor David Miller, say they are also looking for action on environmental protection, affordable housing, public safety and immigrant settlement.

The mayors say certain services and programs cities are providing should be the responsibility of the federal government.

They say the senior government and municipalities should sit down to identify their roles and responsibilities.

Mayor Eddie Francis of Windsor, Ont., said cities need cash to provide services that people expect. A Liberal decision last year to give cities a slice of the federal gasoline tax was a step in the right direction, he told CBC News.

Gloria Kovach, president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, said Prime Minister Stephen Harper has expressed the view that the federal government's role should be to deal with projects of national significance.