Let's be clear: the next couple of years won't be easy either. Most of the Building Canada funding has been allocated. The main source of funding from the federal government will be the federal gas tax, and there will be a few tough years. Municipalities themselves had to find their one-third funding for infrastructure stimulus projects, so they have tight budgets too. It's one thing to say we're going to get through two or three tight years with the knowledge that we'll be ready to resume a long-term plan after that--that's a challenge I think the municipal sector is up for--but if it is an indefinite uncertainty as to when we'll resume our work on infrastructure, that's a much bigger problem.
So, yes, your description is absolutely right: there's a looming end to the programs in place, and we need to be ready to replace them when the budget outlook improves.