As Mayor Naheed Nenshi unveiled the 2013 budget proposal Friday, he also weighed in on other topical issues like former mayor Ralph Klein receiving the Order of Canada in Calgary next week, and his personal thoughts on the decision making process of municipal politics.

City transit was also a big point of discussion as Nenshi believes, reliability is the biggest issue for city transit and as the fleet of trains and buses ages, there may be more mechanical problems.

Before the budget is finalized, Nenshi has hypothetically asked transit how they would use a generous sum of money to improve.

“We are starting to see increased congestion on the system particularly on the south-northwest line. Four-car trains are the solution to that but that will be a while yet, so I have asked transit to think about what they can do in the short term to ease congestion on those lines and to come up with some creative ideas.”

As adjustments are made the to 2013 budget, Nenshi says, with such a diverse group of councillors, decisions are made based on the judgments of each individual person, which may vary from time to time.  

“One of the great things about municipal politics is that people come from every possible way of life, every possible background; a dress designer, a flower shop owner, an air traffic controller, a library technician…a professor.”

Council goes through workshops and is constantly learning to better their financial knowledge and understanding of city budgets.

The Mayor also paused for a moment to share his thoughts on former Mayor and Alberta Premier, Ralph Klein, receiving the Order of Canada.

Nenshi says he’s very pleased about the honour for Klein and adds, he’s incredibly touched the Klein family has agreed for the City to host the ceremony at Old City Hall.

“Certainly this city is much, much, much stronger because of Mayor Klein’s leadership, I still call him Mayor Klein, and it just feels so right for him to be able to get this honour.”

It’s extremely rare for the award to be presented outside of Ottawa and even more unheard of for the award to be given to the family, and not at the honouree’s home.

Klein, who was the 32nd Mayor of Calgary serving office from 1980-1989, suffers from severe dementia.