Out of bounds

Re: Civic campaign fails to inspire (Think Tank, Oct. 14)

Associate professor Greg Mason proposes that the mayoralty candidates should consider some “out of the box” ideas, such as selling off all 12 city-owned golf courses for residential development and other purposes.

Just the other day, U.S. President Donald Trump was subjected to harsh criticism for approving the removal of 450 trees from a municipal golf course in Washington to make the course more similar to the ones that he owns. The uprooting took place despite the order of a Washington federal district judge to not remove any trees from the public course.

Winnipeg's 12 municipal public golf courses have a long history and have a lot of mature trees. Estimating that each golf course might have approximately 3,000 trees, this would equate to the removal of about 36,000 trees from our urban canopy.

As a campaign pledge, “pave paradise, put up a parking lot” would not fly well.

TERRY ASELTINE

Winnipeg