In October 2003, Canada West Foundation released A Capital Question: Infrastructure in Western Canada's Big Six. This in-depth analysis of infrastructure in western Canada's six big cities reinforced the fact that municipal infrastructure has become a serious issue. In 2003, the six big western cities (Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina, and Winnipeg) reported a combined $564 million infrastructure deficit - the annual shortfall in funds for needed infrastructure investments. This is a conservative estimate.