Don't replace old money with new, Fedeli says

The federal government has done enough talking about its new deal for cities, and now it's time for some money, Mayor Vic Fedeli says.

Fedeli was referring to Tuesday's Throne Speech, which once again made reference to the new deal.

"This was spoken about in the last Throne Speech, it was spoken about in the last budget, throughout the federal election, and in this Throne Speech," Fedeli said.

"I hope, now, that the discussion is over and that the cheques start to flow."

Prime Minister Paul Martin has said his new deal for cities would include transferring to them a portion of federal gas tax revenues.

The size of that portion, and how it will be divvied-up, hasn't been revealed yet.

But Fedeli hopes once everything is said and done, it won't be a case of one new source of money replacing an existing one.

"I hope it won't mean when we get part of the gas tax, the feds will then cancel infrastructure grants, so we're left with no net gain, and we're no further ahead," Fedeli said.