We have all had the chance to hear about the funding shortfalls for School District 43. The millions that could be raised by selling off public school property could go a long ways in making many repairs needed for existing schools and school programs. But the millions made by selling lands off could be used up in a blink of an eye when divided up by all the buildings, lands, programs and payrolls.

The hundreds of millions needed for new schools will not come from such sales. That rests in the hands of the provincial government that has drained its pockets on projects such as the Port Mann Bridge. If the district sells off some land and makes a few million, what's to stop the provincial government from subtracting that money from their hundreds of millions in funding because they are billions in deficit? This is just more of the political foolishness we have to live with every day in B.C. and Canada.

The selling off of public lands by school districts, then sanctioning by city rezoning and condoned by our provincial government, should not occur without a mandate from the citizens first.

I know I would want to see these green spaces saved for the future. Should these lands be developed because our governments have gone billions into debt from poor planning?

Steve Mancinelli Coquitlam