City drafts $400m wish list - 150 projects in the offing for stimulus cash

Hamilton council faces the dilemma that perplexes children every Christmas: Do you ask Santa for everything you want or just your top picks?

You don't want to appear greedy, but what if there's a little extra room on the sleigh?

The city is banking on Santa, or rather senior levels of government, feeling generous this year. By Friday, municipalities must submit their wish lists for infrastructure funding as part of the economic stimulus plans.

Hamilton has no idea how much it could get, but estimates it may be around $130 million in total from the federal and provincial governments, based on population.

"It could be less, it could be more," said Tony Tollis, acting head of finance.