May 18, 2013 at 9:23 AM

On May 17, the City's Alternate Service Delivery (ASD) Committee of Council approved a recommendation to lease four city-run golf courses (Kildonan, Windsor Park, Harbourview and Crescent Drive) and sell off John Blumberg.  

Before the vote took place, a number of delegations who showed up to speak on the matter, were denied.  While it's customary for committees of council to suspend their rules and allow delegates to speak, (even if they had not registered), Committee Chair Russ Wyatt, declined to support a motion by Councillor Nordman to do so.  Local 500 President Mike Davidson had previously registered to speak on the matter, however, his name did not appear on the list due to an error. 

"To deny the opportunity to debate this issue is an erosion of our democratic process," said Mike Davidson, Local 500 President.  "Many individuals are not aware of the rules and I think it's disgraceful what took place here today."
The golf services report will now flow to Council's Executive Policy Committee on May 22 and if approved, will move on to City Council for a final vote on May 29. 

Under the City of Winnipeg Charter, leases over five years or the sale of land owned by the city and used for park or cemetery purposes, requires a vote of 2/3 of all members of Council.

"Responsible Winnipeg" ad Campaign launched

As you may be aware, an ad campaign was launched urging Winnipeggers to lobby their city councillor to approve the golf course proposal.  While it appeared that a citizen group known as "Responsible Winnipeg" http://getresponsiblewinnipeg.ca/ was behind the campaign, the Mayor publicly claimed that it was a city initiative.  However, the website and advertisements including an electronic message board at the Goldeyes baseball park, had no visible reference that it was a City of Winnipeg initiative.  

"We were shocked to learn that tax payer's dollars were being spent on a campaign to urge citizens to lobby councillors to support privatization of public services," said Davidson. 

The ad campaign claims that the city golf courses are losing $850,000 per year are stuck in an $8.4 million dollar trap.  It further asks citizens to help get out of the golf business.

"Time and time again, we've said that the golf courses don't lose money," says Davidson.  "When the City created a special operating agency to run the golf courses in 2002, they started to pay property taxes and other departmental charges. These aren’t losses, they are  transfers to the city’s general revenue fund and they’ll probably vanish when they attempt to turn this over to a contractor.  In other words, these are artificial figures and we shouldn't be fooled by this shell game."

You can view the media articles by clicking on the links below:

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/New-website--207707511.html

http://www.youtube.com/user/WinnipegFreePress

http://metronews.ca/voices/policy-frog/674590/video-irresponsible-of-winnipeg-for-responsible-winnipeg/

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2013/05/17/no-choice-on-city-golf-courses-says-coun-russ-wyatt

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Citys-plan-for-golf-courses-passes-first-hurdle-207914511.html

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/councillors-rip-golf-course-ads-207835731.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2013/05/17/mb-golf-courses-ads-winnipeg-controversy.html

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/mr-katz-strikes-out-again-207988891.html

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sam-bogeys-again-208042441.html

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2013/05/18/teed-off-stifling-of-golf-course-discussion-was-a-bad-move-say-critics

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