WINNIPEG — Petitions are circulating in some countries to ban Donald Trump.
Some mayors in the United States are joking about banning him themselves.
But Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman is ready to welcome the controversial Republican presidential hopeful.
Bowman released a letter to Trump on Thursday — International Human Rights Day — that urges him to visit the Manitoba capital and specifically its Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
"Mr. Trump, it is my hope that in visiting our city and, in particular, our museum, you might develop a more profound sense of compassion and tolerance for others," Bowman wrote.
"My invitation comes ... in light of the recent traumatic events in Paris and around the world, and in response to your political and personal reaction to them."
Trump suggested this week that all Muslims should be banned from entering the United States "until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on."
His remarks prompted fury around the world. The White House said his comments disqualify him from being president. Others both joked about, and seriously pondered, shunning Trump.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said if he had the power, "the only banning that would be done is that I would ban (Trump) from Philadelphia."
Rick Kriseman, the mayor of St. Petersburg, Fla., tweeted: "I am hereby barring Donald Trump from entering St. Petersburg until we fully understand the dangerous threat posed by all Trumps." He later explained he was "answering ridiculousness with ridiculousness."
Bowman wrote that while "you fight to close doors on foreign Muslims in the United States, Canada is preparing to welcome 25,000 Syrian refugees."
"I believe the reason for our tolerance, acceptance and desire to help comes from a deep understanding of other cultures," said Bowman, who came under scrutiny earlier this year after Winnipeg was labelled "the most racist city in Canada" for its treatment of indigenous people.
"We embrace and celebrate our multiculturalism and we understand that in diversity there is strength."
While a few applauded the invitation on social media, it was criticized by others who felt it downplayed the seriousness of Trump's bigotry.
"For some crazy reason, the letter doesn't make it clear that Trump is a virulent racist who invokes the language of the Holocaust," tweeted lawyer Corey Shefman, who added it was "a misguided publicity stunt."
"How would having him in Winnipeg make our city's Muslim community feel?"
Another called the invitation deplorable.
"@realDonaldTrump has no place in our city or our politics," tweeted Thomas Linner. "Please reconsider and rescind this invitation."
