WINNIPEG — Canada’s facing an infrastructure crisis. The Trans Canada is often an impassable embarrassment; billions of dollars of bridge work is waiting to be done. Congestion adds billions to the cost of living.

Since 2011, municipalities across Canada have been receiving a portion of the taxes accrued from gasoline sales in something called the Gas Tax Fund.

That money is supposed to go to infrastructure. The question arises: Are those towns and cities spending it on projects other than roads and bridges? Like arenas, maybe?

Steven Fletcher, Canada’s Minister of State for Transport, has issued a warning that they had better not be.

Fletcher was addressing the annual general meeting of the Manitoba Trucking Association MTA this week when he made the remarks in response to a question from MTA’s Executive Director Bob Dolyniuk.

“The infrastructure deficit is so large,” Fletcher said, “I would expect and pressure municipalities to use that gas tax on roads and infrastructures.

“Do you know any municipalities, [using gas tax money on stadiums or other projects]?” Fletcher asked Dolyniuk, “I want names!”