Toronto Mayor David Miller says if Ottawa can find $1 billion for G20 security, it should be able to find money for public transit. (Steven D'Souza/CBC)

It shouldn't take a global economic meltdown for municipalities to get the fiscal help they desperately need, big city mayors said Thursday as they called on all levels of government to enter into a new funding partnership.

With federal stimulus spending coming to an end in about 10 months, the mayors called on all federal parties to support a partnership that reinvents the way "Canada gets built and funded."

"Strong cities drive our economy," said Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr, chairman of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, as the so-called Big Cities Mayors Caucus wrapped up its meeting in Toronto.

"We need that partnership, … that new arrangement, to fight traffic gridlock, homelessness, climate change and the infrastructure deficit that we have talked about for many years."

The mayors passed several resolutions, including one on housing and gridlock, that will be voted on by delegates at the federation's four-day annual conference, which begins Friday.

If Ottawa can find $1 billion for G20 security, it can find money for transit, said Toronto Mayor David Miller.

Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay said municipalities managed to turn federal economic stimulus dollars into jobs — an example of the type of co-operation needed to build strong cities.

However, Zehr admitted some municipalities might not complete their stimulus projects by the deadline because of delays caused by weather and other factors.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said the success of the federal-municipal initiative to promote economic development around the Olympics shows cities can take a leadership role to create jobs.

"We invited 100 executives from around the world, $1.5 million was dedicated, about half from the federal government," he said.

"Within three months of the Olympics Games ending, we have over $60 million in foreign direct investment, over 300 jobs created in the Metro Vancouver region."

Haiti also on mayors' agenda

The mayors said they weren't looking for a specific increase in their share of tax dollars but rather a greater say in how they're spent. They're seeking a reorganization of the responsibility and funding for specific programs among levels of government.

Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, known for keeping down property taxes, said responsibilities should be clearly defined because the current system is a patchwork with too much duplication.

Miller noted cities receive only eight per cent of tax revenues while Ottawa and the provinces get the rest.

"We need to build this country together in partnership, and that partnership means significant investment in infrastructure in cities like waste water and transit," said Miller.

A March report from the Toronto Board of Trade said Toronto finished last among 24 global cities when it came to commuting times, with an average 80-minute round-trip to work.

The mayors will host a national infrastructure summit in Regina in January.

On Friday, 1,500 delegates will hear speeches by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. Former prime minister Paul Martin will address the conference on Saturday, and NDP Leader Jack Layton and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May will speak Sunday.

On Monday, delegates will discuss how to help rebuild Haiti. January's 7.0 magnitude earthquake in the Caribbean country killed 230,000 to 300,000 people, including 58 Canadians, and destroyed much of the country's infrastructure.