WHISTLER, B.C. - Canada's big city mayors say this summer's construction season is slipping away with no sign of the economic stimulus cash promised by the federal government.

The mayors of the country's 22 largest cities made an appeal Thursday to get the cash flowing.

They lauded the federal government for putting $12 billion on the table for infrastructure spending as part of a $40-billion economic stimulus package, but Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr said there's been little more than announcements so far.

"Our shovels are ready and we're simply waiting for the money," Zehr said at a news conference in Whistler, B.C., where the big city mayors met on the first day of the annual meeting of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

"To its credit, the federal government has put $12 billion on the table and has made many project announcements. However, most stimulus projects are still awaiting final approval as construction days slip away."

When the money was announced in January, the federal government said it was to provide "timely economic stimulus by creating jobs across Canada in the construction, engineering and manufacturing sectors as well as generating significant economic spinoff activity."

The mayors say that hasn't been the case so far.

"It simply hasn't happened at this point in time," said Zehr, chairman of the big city mayors caucus.

"This construction season is virtually lost."

Mayors say the hold-up is not at the municipal level, and they'd like the federal government to relax a March 31, 2011, deadline for projects to be "substantially" completed.

Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco said his city has had to go ahead with planning and public tenders without any federal funds.

"In order to get the work started on time, we've gone ahead and have had tenders out there but we've had to add a line to those tenders that this is based on money flowing in a timely manner, even though we've had a number of projects approved," Fiacco said.

"Unless that money flows through, unless we get the go ahead, we could lose a full construction season. . . The whole intent was to create the stimulus so that we can get monies flowing and generating all kinds of jobs and revenues."

Mayors said the hold-up is not at the municipal level, and they'd like Ottawa to establish clear deadlines for project approvals for each province and territory.

The federation says there is a $123-billion "infrastructure deficit" in Canadian municipalities, and the stimulus spending could go a long way toward remedying that.

They said the federal government must make a long-term investment in cities, but they lauded the $12 billion currently available.

If they get it.

"The municipalities are ready to go," said Toronto Mayor David Miller.

"We think this program is extremely important. We're appreciative of it because it builds essential municipal infrastructure and puts Canadians back to work. But our challenge is that although there's been announcements, very little money has hit the ground."