I, Ashu M. G. Solo, filed the following:

1. Civil rights case against the City of Saskatoon (Mayor's Office) and Councillor Randy Donauer for prayer recitations at government organized events

2. Code of Conduct complaint against Mayor Don Atchison for potential online campaign advertising violations

3. Civil rights case against the City of Saskatoon (Saskatoon Transit Services) for promoting holidays from only one religion on city buses

4. Human rights complaint against the City of Saskatoon (Executive Committee) for retaliating against me by not reappointing me to the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee and not appointing me to another civic committee or board

5. Human rights complaint against the City of Saskatoon (City Solicitor’s Office) for retaliating against me by trying to deprive me of my right to directly communicate with members of City Council and by telling employees of other City of Saskatoon departments to not talk to me

6. Human rights complaint against the City of Saskatoon (Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Office) and City of Saskatoon (Living in Harmony Ad Hoc Subcommittee of Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee) for retaliating against me by not considering my submissions to the Living in Harmony Contest

This site contains my media releases, some case documents, emails to City Council, etc.

I don't waste my time arguing with opponents.

The backlash makes me much more determined to fight against bigotry and shows the need for these civil rights cases, so I'll be filing more civil rights cases. You ain't seen nothing yet.

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Criticism of the Board of Trustees for the Saskatoon Public Library

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Saskatoon should shelve costly plan for new downtown library," The StarPhoenix, Jan. 30, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letter-saskatoon-should-shelve-costly-plan-for-new-downtown-library

Ashu M. G. Solo, "New Downtown Library Not Needed," Agenda of Saskatoon Public Library Board of Trustees for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Apr. 24, 2024, p. 7, URL:  https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/isl/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-24-Board-Agenda-Pkg-PUBLIC.pdf

Ashu M. G. Solo, "New downtown Saskatoon library a foolish waste of tax dollars," The StarPhoenix, June 11, 2024, URL:  https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-new-downtown-saskatoon-library-a-foolish-waste-of-tax-dollars

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Cut salaries of Saskatoon library managers," The StarPhoenix, July 13, 2024, URL:  https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-college-wrong-to-discipline-doctor-for-anti-abortion-advice

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Library, arena, auditorium, potholes, snow removal, deicing, and campaign finance reform," Public Agenda:  Governance and Priorities Committee for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Aug. 14, 2024, pp. 81-82, URL:  https://pub-saskatoon.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=222893

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Library board lacks legitimacy to tax, build," The StarPhoenix, Aug. 15, 2024, URL:  https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-sask-nuclear-plan-intended-to-delay-move-from-fossil-fuels

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Saskatoon Public Library, executive salaries, and reform of The Public Libraries Act, 1996," Public Agenda:  Governance and Priorities Committee, City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Sept. 11, 2024, URL: https://pub-saskatoon.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=224158

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Constructive Criticism of the Board of Trustees for the Saskatoon Public Library," Agenda:  Saskatoon Public Library Board Meeting, City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Sept. 18, 2024, pp. 154-155, URL: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/isl/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-18-Board-Agenda-Pkg-PUBLIC.pdf

Ashu M. G. Solo, "The Public Libraries Act, 1996 needs to be reformed," Agenda:  Saskatoon Public Library Board Meeting, City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Sept. 18, 2024, p. 156, URL: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/isl/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-18-Board-Agenda-Pkg-PUBLIC.pdf

Reprint

Ashu M. G. Solo, "New Downtown Library Not Needed," Agenda of Saskatoon Public Library Board of Trustees for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., June 19, 2024, p. 13, URL: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/isl/uploads/2024/06/2024-06-19-Board-Agenda-Pkg-PUBLIC.pdf

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Letters by Ashu M. G. Solo in Agendas for Saskatoon City Council, Saskatoon Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee, and Saskatoon Public Library Board of Trustees

Below are my letters included in City of Saskatoon (municipal government) agendas:
 
Ashu M. G. Solo, "Constructive Criticism of the Board of Trustees for the Saskatoon Public Library," Agenda:  Saskatoon Public Library Board Meeting, City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Sept. 18, 2024, pp. 154-155, URL: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/isl/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-18-Board-Agenda-Pkg-PUBLIC.pdf

Ashu M. G. Solo, "The Public Libraries Act, 1996 needs to be reformed," Agenda:  Saskatoon Public Library Board Meeting, City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Sept. 18, 2024, p. 156, URL: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/isl/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-18-Board-Agenda-Pkg-PUBLIC.pdf

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Saskatoon Public Library, executive salaries, and reform of The Public Libraries Act, 1996," Public Agenda:  Governance and Priorities Committee, City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Sept. 11, 2024, 2 pages, URL: https://pub-saskatoon.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=224158

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Library, arena, auditorium, potholes, snow removal, deicing, and campaign finance reform," Public Agenda: Governance and Priorities Committee for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Aug. 14, 2024, pp. 81-82, URL: https://pub-saskatoon.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=222893

Ashu M. G. Solo, "New Downtown Library Not Needed," Agenda of Saskatoon Public Library Board of Trustees for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Apr. 24, 2024, p. 7, URL: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/isl/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-24-Board-Agenda-Pkg-PUBLIC.pdf

Ashu M. G. Solo, letter on renaming John A. Macdonald Road, Additional Agenda Items:  Regular Business Meeting of City Council, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, June 28, 2021, p. 21.

Ashu M. G. Solo, letter on removing "his worship" wording for mayor from web form, Additional Agenda Items:  Regular Business Meeting of City Council, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, June 28, 2021, p. 20.

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Civil Rights Complaint against City of Saskatoon (Saskatoon Transit Services) for Christmas Messages on Programmable Bus Signs," Agenda of City Council, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Apr. 8, 2013, agenda item B5, pp. 418-426.

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Summary of My Presentation about Christmas Greetings on Buses to CD&RR Committee," Agenda of Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Feb. 14, 2013, 3 pages.

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Christmas Messages on Saskatoon Transit Buses," Agenda of Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Feb. 14, 2013, 10 pages.

Ashu M. G. Solo, "City of Saskatoon Wasting Taxpayer Money on Tote Bags," Agenda of City Council, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Jan. 7, 2013, agenda item C37, pp. 312-313.

Reprints

Ashu M. G. Solo, "New Downtown Library Not Needed," Agenda of Saskatoon Public Library Board of Trustees for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, June 19, 2024, p. 13, URL: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/isl/uploads/2024/06/2024-06-19-Board-Agenda-Pkg-PUBLIC.pdf

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Budget of Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee," Agenda of Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada, Jan. 10, 2013, 2 pages.

Sunday, September 8, 2024

Saskatoon Public Library, Executive Salaries, and Reform of The Public Libraries Act, 1996

From: Ashu M. G. Solo
Sent: Sunday, September 8, 2024 4:42 AM
To: charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca; darren.hill@saskatoon.ca; hilary.gough@saskatoon.ca; troy.davies@saskatoon.ca; randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca; cynthia.block@saskatoon.ca; mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca; sarina.gersher@saskatoon.ca; bev.dubois@saskatoon.ca; zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca; david.kirton@saskatoon.ca; mayors.office@saskatoon.ca
Subject: Saskatoon Public Library, executive salaries, and reform of The Public Libraries Act, 1996

The following letter is in your agenda. It’s imperative that you read this and the letters at the links below:

Saskatoon City Council:

Below is an email message that I sent to Saskatchewan MLAs on how The Public Libraries Act, 1996 needs to be reformed so that only municipal councils, not library boards, can get new libraries built. See this new letter to the editor that I wrote for further information:

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Library board lacks legitimacy to tax, build," The StarPhoenix, Aug. 15, 2024, URL:
https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-sask-nuclear-plan-intended-to-delay-move-from-fossil-fuels

As a condition of imposing library taxes requested by the Board of Trustees of the Saskatoon Public Library, you should better review how the board plans to spend this money and demand that the board decrease the exorbitant salaries of library executives. See this letter to the editor that I wrote for further information:

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Cut salaries of Saskatoon library managers," The StarPhoenix, July 13, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-college-wrong-to-discipline-doctor-for-anti-abortion-advice

Sincerely,

Ashu M. G. Solo


August 25, 2024

Subject: The Public Libraries Act, 1996 needs to be reformed

MLAs for Saskatchewan:

The Public Libraries Act, 1996 should be reformed so that only municipal councils, not library boards, have the authority to get new libraries built. See this letter to the editor I wrote:

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Library board lacks legitimacy to tax, build," The StarPhoenix, Aug. 15, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-sask-nuclear-plan-intended-to-delay-move-from-fossil-fuels

The library board in Saskatoon is recklessly and foolishly having a new downtown library built when the existing downtown library is excellent. See these letters I wrote for further information:

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Saskatoon should shelve costly plan for new downtown library," The StarPhoenix, Jan. 30, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letter-saskatoon-should-shelve-costly-plan-for-new-downtown-library

Ashu M. G. Solo, "New Downtown Library Not Needed," Agenda of Saskatoon Public Library Board of Trustees for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Apr. 24, 2024, p. 7, URL: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/isl/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-24-Board-Agenda-Pkg-PUBLIC.pdf

Ashu M. G. Solo, "New downtown Saskatoon library a foolish waste of tax dollars," The StarPhoenix, June 11, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-new-downtown-saskatoon-library-a-foolish-waste-of-tax-dollars

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Cut salaries of Saskatoon library managers," The StarPhoenix, July 13, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-college-wrong-to-discipline-doctor-for-anti-abortion-advice

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Library, arena, auditorium, potholes, snow removal, deicing, and campaign finance reform," Public Agenda: Governance and Priorities Committee for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Aug. 14, 2024, pp. 81-82, URL: https://pub-saskatoon.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=222893

Sincerely,

Ashu M. G. Solo

Saturday, August 10, 2024

Library, Arena, Auditorium, Potholes, Snow Removal, Deicing, and Campaign Finance Reform

From: Ashu M. G. Solo
Sent: Sunday, August 11, 2024 12:20 AM
To: 'charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca' <charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca>; 'darren.hill@saskatoon.ca' <darren.hill@saskatoon.ca>; 'hilary.gough@saskatoon.ca' <hilary.gough@saskatoon.ca>; 'david.kirton@saskatoon.ca' <david.kirton@saskatoon.ca>; 'troy.davies@saskatoon.ca' <troy.davies@saskatoon.ca>; 'randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca' <randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca>; 'cynthia.block@saskatoon.ca' <cynthia.block@saskatoon.ca>; 'mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca' <mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca>; 'sarina.gersher@saskatoon.ca' <sarina.gersher@saskatoon.ca>; 'bev.dubois@saskatoon.ca' <bev.dubois@saskatoon.ca>; 'zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca' <zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca>; 'mayors.office@saskatoon.ca' <mayors.office@saskatoon.ca>
Subject: Library, arena, auditorium, potholes, snow removal, deicing, and campaign finance reform

The following letter is in your agenda. It’s imperative that you read this and the letters at the links below:

Saskatoon City Council:

Because of the decision of Saskatoon City Council to loan $67.5 million to the Saskatoon Public Library, I want to draw your attention to these letters I wrote:

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Saskatoon should shelve costly plan for new downtown library," The StarPhoenix, Jan. 30, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letter-saskatoon-should-shelve-costly-plan-for-new-downtown-library

Ashu M. G. Solo, "New Downtown Library Not Needed," Agenda of Saskatoon Public Library Board of Trustees for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Apr. 24, 2024, p. 7, URL: https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/isl/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-24-Board-Agenda-Pkg-PUBLIC.pdf

Ashu M. G. Solo, "New downtown Saskatoon library a foolish waste of tax dollars," The StarPhoenix, June 11, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-new-downtown-saskatoon-library-a-foolish-waste-of-tax-dollars

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Cut salaries of Saskatoon library managers," The StarPhoenix, July 13, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letters-college-wrong-to-discipline-doctor-for-anti-abortion-advice

Replacing the excellent downtown library with a new downtown library is costing people a lot of money in library taxes, driving up housing costs, making it harder for people to afford housing, increasing homelessness, doing a lot of environmental damage due to building materials needed for construction of a new library, keeping unionized library staff from getting salaries that keep up with inflation, etc. Many homeowners will be paying over $350/year in library taxes for decades to fund the construction of the new downtown library. The streets of Saskatoon are full of homeless people. 95% of unionized library staff recently voted in favor of job action.

Most people believe that the City of Saskatoon has its priorities all wrong. Instead of the City of Saskatoon spending money on a new downtown library, more money should be allocated for pothole repair, snow removal, and deicing. I know someone whose car tires were ruined three times due to potholes in Saskatoon. I know someone who couldn’t get his car off his street for days two times in the past few years because of inadequate snow removal. One of his neighbors ended up paying for a private company to clear the street. This problem wouldn’t have occurred if the City of Saskatoon had been doing snow removal on an ongoing basis instead of waiting until after large snowfalls.

Saskatoon doesn’t need a new arena or new auditorium. The existing arena and auditorium are fine and can be renovated if required. Building a new arena and auditorium in downtown Saskatoon will cause a colossal amount of environmental damage due to the building materials used. Also, building a new arena will cause a parking nightmare. It’s already hard enough to find parking in downtown Saskatoon.

City council candidates should stop taking campaign contributions from construction contractors so these donations don’t influence their spending decisions. There needs to be campaign finance reform to limit individual contributions and prevent companies from donating to candidates.
 
Sincerely,

Ashu M. G. Solo

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Letter on New Downtown Library

This letter was sent to the Board of Trustees of the Saskatoon Public Library on April 1, 2024:

April 1, 2024

Board of Trustees for Saskatoon Public Library:

Saskatoon doesn't need a new downtown library.  I want to draw your attention to this letter to the editor I wrote for The StarPhoenix on how libraries will become obsolete:

Ashu M. G. Solo, "Saskatoon should shelve costly plan for new downtown library," The StarPhoenix, Jan. 30, 2024, URL: https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/letters/letter-saskatoon-should-shelve-costly-plan-for-new-downtown-library

The online library I refer to in this letter to the editor is called Epic and is available at https://www.getepic.com/. 

The existing downtown library already has a theatre, a meeting room, an art gallery, a computer classroom, a local history room, a kids' section, a kids' story room, an arts and crafts lab, a young adult section, computers, photocopiers, a writer in residence, outreach workers, a section for newspapers and magazines, and a section for movies, documentaries, music, audiobooks, and videogames.  That's all Saskatoon needs in a downtown library.  

The downtown library doesn’t need a kitchen, recording studios, and labs for post-production, 3D printing, graphic design, etc.  These are services that private businesses should offer.

If more computers are needed for public usage, the computer classroom can be opened to the public when it isn’t being used for courses.

A lot of families don't want to use the current downtown library because of alcohol and illegal drug consumption there.  I was talking to a security guard at the existing downtown library who said that people are drinking alcohol in the library and smoking marijuana in the washrooms including the washroom in the kids' section.  Are you going to constantly have a security guard in each washroom?  Recreational substance consumption will continue in the new downtown library so a lot of families won't want to use it too.  

Some other libraries have seed libraries.  Saskatoon Public Library should have a seed library too.  This doesn’t require a new building.  It requires a box to store the seeds.

Because the City of Saskatoon keeps building new facilities like a new police station, new art gallery, and now a new library, property taxes are way too high now and there isn’t enough funding for quickly fixing potholes, snow removal, and deicing. 

There’s a lot of public anger about your decision to build a new downtown library.  The will of the public should be respected for an issue like whether to build a new facility.

Sincerely,

Ashu M. G. Solo


Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Immorality, Discrimination, Bigotry, Timidity, Ignorance, Stupidity, and Hatred in Opposing Secularism and Religious Liberty

Immorality, Discrimination, Bigotry, Illegality, Timidity, Ignorance, Stupidity, and Hatred in 
Opposing Secularism and Religious Liberty

By Ashu M. G. Solo

A. Introduction

I filed civil rights cases with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission in 2012 and 2013 for Christian prayer recitations at City of Saskatoon (Saskatoon City Hall) events and Christian messages on City of Saskatoon buses.  These cases resulted in the City of Saskatoon ending prayer recitations at its events and adding messages for other religions on City of Saskatoon buses.  

I made nine other secularism complaints.  

Two of my published op-ed articles support religious liberty.  Seven of my published letters to the editor support religious liberty.  

Furthermore, I have two published op-ed articles in which I originate secular alternatives to Christmas and Easter.

B. Secularism and Religious Liberty Don’t Promote Immorality

Secularism doesn't promote immorality. Secularism is part of religious liberty and assures that people of all religions, nonreligious spiritual people, agnostics, and atheists are treated equally. Secularism protects religion from the state and the state from religion.

Government promotion of religion hasn't helped morality. Morality comes mainly from the culture, not religion, of a society. Movies and T.V. series that promote polygamy, polyamory, adultery, law enforcement criminality, military criminality, or other criminality promote immorality.

People cry about me fighting for secularism and religious liberty when they should be crying about a lack of morality in society. If you want morality in society, don't cry about secularism, which is part of religious liberty. If you want morality in society, complain about movies and T.V. series that promote polygamy, polyamory, adultery, law enforcement criminality, military criminality, or other criminality.

C. Immorality of Your Opposition to Secularism and Religious Liberty

Secularism and religious liberty don’t promote immorality. Opposing secularism and religious liberty is a form of immorality.

There's nothing wrong with being a Christian, but it's majorly wrong to be a Christian supremacist like it's majorly wrong to be a white supremacist. If you believe that Canada is or should be a Christian country, then you're a Christian supremacist. A Christian supremacist believes that the religion of the majority should be the de facto religion of the country, that people in the majority should be treated with superiority, and that it's okay if the government promotes Christianity and indoctrinates people into Christianity. Being a Christian supremacist doesn't require being Christian; I've seen atheists and religious minorities who are Christian supremacists. A Christian supremacist is as bad as a white supremacist. Opponents of my secularism cases are Christian supremacists.

If you believe that Canada is or should be a Christian country, then you're nothing but a dirty filthy bigot to the core and a disgrace to the country. Look in the mirror and see your dirty filthy bigotry if you believe that the government should promote Christianity or indoctrinate people into Christianity. If you are a Christian supremacist, then the stench of your dirty filthy bigotry is as foul as the stench of sewage in a wastewater treatment facility.

D. Secularism and Religious Liberty

I believe in a country where the government neither promotes religion nor suppresses it, where the government neither favors any religion nor disfavors any religion, where the government makes public policy neither based on religion nor based on opposition to religion, where the government and public and private organizations require religious beliefs and moral beliefs to be accommodated, and where the government treats people of all religions, nonreligious spiritual people, agnostics, and atheists equitably.

Religious liberty requires that the state and agents of the state not give preferential treatment to any religion, not discriminate on the basis of religion, not interfere with the free practice of any religion, fully accommodate the practice of religion, not make public policy on the basis of religion, and ensure that public and private organizations not discriminate on the basis of religion and fully accommodate the practice of religion.

There are over 10,000 religions, 150 of which have 1 million or more followers, not including branches of each religion. The state can't promote all religions and can't promote all religions equally so it should promote none. Also, nobody's taxes should go toward promoting a religion that she doesn't believe in.

The freedom of religion includes freedom from religion. Separation of religion and state is a fundamental aspect of freedom of religion and the only way to guarantee religious equality. Secularism ensures all religions are treated equally, protects religion from the state, and protects the state from religion.

I don't believe in using any religious beliefs as a basis for public policy.

I believe in these principles of secularism:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
— U.S. Constitution Amendment 1

"No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust."
— U.S. Constitution Article VI, paragraph 3

I fought for secularism because Canada isn't supposed to be a Christian country. It's supposed to be a secular multireligious country. Canada needs to respect everybody. It needs to protect the rights of the minority from the discriminatory will of the majority.

Government promotion of only Christianity is analogous to going to a restaurant where there is only one menu option and the restaurateur force feeds you with that single option. Secularism is analogous to going to a restaurant and being able to eat whatever you want. The former is suitable for some people. The latter is suitable for all people. My opponents were fighting for some people. I was fighting for all people.

The secularism I support is not an attempt to interfere with religious liberty. The secularism I support is part of religious liberty. I strongly support religious liberty. The secularism I support has no government promotion of religion. In the secularism I support, people are free to wear religious clothing or otherwise practice their religions. I have reviewed publications in support of this.

At the link below on CounterCurrents, you can read an op-ed article I wrote on protecting religious minorities:


E. Government Indoctrination into Christianity

Indigenous kids were abducted from their families and put into residential schools where they were physically attacked, sexually assaulted, deprived of food and nutrition, not allowed to speak their languages, not allowed to see their families, and forcibly indoctrinated into Christianity. Residential schools were operated by churches to forcibly indoctrinate kids into Christianity.

Federal, provincial, and municipal governments in Canada are still indoctrinating people into Christianity not through the brutality of residential schools, but through prayer recitations, Christmas messages, statutory holidays for Christian celebrations, etc. A message is sent through these practices that you need to be a Christian or accept the superiority of Christianity to fit into Canadian society. Government promotion of Christianity indoctrinates people into Christianity.

Christian supremacists argue that it's fine for the government to have Christian prayer recitations at government events. People are free to pray at government events, but the government shouldn't be reciting prayers at its events.

A lot of brazen bigots sent me messages saying that I shouldn't have come to Canada or should go back to where I came from if I'm unwilling to accept Christian supremacy. I was born in Canada, but it doesn't matter where I was born. Nobody has the right to make Canada a Christian country.

Indigenous people were here first and many of them were forcibly indoctrinated into Christianity in residential schools. Why should Indigenous people accept government indoctrination into Christianity? Why should Indigenous people accept Christian supremacy in this country? Indigenous people who oppose secularism and religious liberty are opposing the rights of Indigenous people who weren't forcibly indoctrinated into Christianity by the government.

Just because my ancestry is from India, it doesn't mean I have to accept government promotion of Christianity in this country. Look in the mirror and see your dirty filthy bigotry if you support government promotion of Christianity.

F. Illegality of Government Indoctrination into Christianity

The inclusion of Christian prayer recitations in municipal government events and Christian messages on municipal government buses clearly violated the freedom from religion inherent to freedom of religion and clearly gave primacy to one religion over all other religions.  

I attended numerous banquets for numerous secular organizations and there was never a prayer recitation at any of them and certainly not a Christian prayer recitation at any of them.  I would have thought the last place I would hear a prayer recitation was at a municipal government event for volunteers including volunteers serving on the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee, which promoted respect for all races, religions, ethnicities, cultures, etc.  

There were many people at the volunteer appreciation banquet who were not Christian.  If people wanted to pray before having dinner, people were free to do that on their own according to their own religious beliefs, but when there is a Christian prayer recitation at a municipal government event, that is highly discriminatory.  

Politicians were free to promote Christianity on their own time, but they weren't free to use the office of mayor or a municipal government event funded by taxpayers to promote Christianity, impose their religious beliefs on others who don't share them, and give preferential treatment to their religion over all other religions by trying to lead people who aren't Christian in a Christian prayer.

I was invited to attend the volunteer appreciation banquet because of my volunteer work for the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee.  I didn't volunteer to be subject to Christian indoctrination.  

I joined the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee to fight against discrimination.  I never would have thought that my service on the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee would instead make me subject to discrimination at a volunteer appreciation banquet by the municipal government for public representatives on the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee and other City of Saskatoon committees and boards.  

If I had known there would be a Christian prayer recitation at the volunteer appreciation banquet, I certainly wouldn't have attended because I didn't want to be subject to Christian indoctrination at a municipal government event or anywhere else.  If I wanted to attend a prayer recitation, I could have gone to a religious institution.  If I wanted to attend a Christian prayer recitation, I could have gone to a church, but I'm not a Christian.  

Most people at the volunteer appreciation banquet wouldn't be happy if a Sikh, Scientologist, or Buddhist mayor was to have someone say a prayer recitation from his religion to the audience.  Why should Christianity be treated any differently? 

Municipal politicians should stop making Saskatoon citizens who aren't Christian feel excluded and like second-class citizens by having Christian prayer recitations at municipal government events and Christian messages on municipal government buses.  This is absolutely disgraceful.

Christian prayer recitations at municipal government events and Christian messages on municipal government buses strongly violated my freedom of conscience because I am not a Christian, I do not believe in a Christian God, I do not believe that any Christian books are the word of a God or a prophet, I do not believe in any Christian stories, I do not believe in many Christian values, I strongly oppose many Christian values, I do not practice any Christian observances, I do not do Christian prayers, I do not celebrate Christian holidays, and I do not attend Christian religious institutions.

Religion is a fundamental freedom under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and a prohibited ground of discrimination under the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code.  The freedom of religion includes freedom from religion.

It was my position that freedom of conscience in section 2a of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms includes freedom from religion, that section 15 of the charter guarantees religious equality, that the charter forbids attempts to coerce, limit, or otherwise influence the choice of religious observance, and that section 27 of the charter on multiculturalism forbids conferring special privileges or benefits on any particular religion.  It was my position that prayer recitations at City of Saskatoon events and religious messages on City of Saskatoon buses violated these sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

It was my position that prayer recitations at City of Saskatoon events and religious messages on City of Saskatoon buses discriminated on the basis of the prohibited grounds of religion and creed contrary to section 2 of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, violated freedom of conscience in section 4 of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, and violated section 12 of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code by discriminating against people who aren't Christian with respect to the services provided by the City of Saskatoon.   It was my position that freedom of conscience in section 4 of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code includes freedom from religion.  

Separation of religion and state is a fundamental aspect of freedom of religion.  Separation of religion and state means the state can't interfere with freedom to practice religion, but also means the state can't promote any religion.  This is to protect people of all religions including Christians.  

When politicians had Christian prayer recitations at civic events or Christian messages on city buses, it sent the message that there is a priority given to Christian values, that Christians are more valued or welcome than others while marginalizing others, that Christianity is more valued than other religions or a lack of religious beliefs, that Christianity is the state religion, that a citizen is unequal and second class if she's not a Christian, that only Christians can serve on City Council because a non-Christian won't have a Christian prayer, that volunteers on civic committees and boards are not treated equally if they're not Christian, and that only Christians should volunteer for civic committees and boards.  This makes Saskatoon look like an archaic city of religious intolerance and forces those who object to the prayer recitation to either sit through it against their religions, consciences, or wills or leave the room and be embarrassed in doing so.  

The Christian prayer recitation at a civic event was a coercive attempt at Christian indoctrination because it sent the message to people who aren't Christian that Christianity is treated like the de facto state religion and that people need to convert to Christianity if they want to fit in at city events, if they want to be a first-class citizen whose rights are respected, if they want to be on City Council, and if they want to volunteer for civic committees or boards.

I was angered that my taxpayer money was funding City of Saskatoon events and City of Saskatoon buses that promote a religion I don't believe in.

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled against Saguenay City Council having prayer recitations in Mouvement laïque québécois and Alain Simoneau v. City of Saguenay and Jean Tremblay:

https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/2015/2015scc16/2015scc16.html

The Ontario Court of Appeal ruled against the Penetanguishene Town Council having prayer recitations in Henry W. Freitag v. Penetanguishene (Town):

http://canlii.ca/en/on/onca/doc/1999/1999canlii3786/1999canlii3786.html

When a StarPhoenix reporter questioned the mayor, he proposed having a prayer recitation for a different religion every year.  Author David Barrett has documented 10,000 different religions, 150 of which have one million or more followers, not including branches of each religion in the World Christian Encyclopedia.

The government can't promote all religions and can't promote all religions equally so it should promote none.  Also, nobody's taxes should go toward promoting a religion that she doesn't believe in.

Did the mayor want to have 10,000 different prayer recitations?  Where would they have found people to recite all of these prayers?  Why wouldn't they have just let people pray on their own if they wanted to instead of having prayer recitations at municipal government events?

There are numerous religions that most people have never heard of.  Did the mayor want to have a Scientology prayer, a Zoroastrian prayer, and a Heaven's Gate prayer?  These religions have no less validity to their followers than any other religion.  It would take millenniums to rotate through prayers for every religion.  Different people attend the banquet every year and they don't live for millenniums so nobody would ever be exposed to every prayer for every religion at the banquets.  A taxpayer's money shouldn't be used to promote religions that she doesn't believe in.

The idea suggested by City Council of allowing greetings for other religious holidays in addition to Christmas greetings is not a practical idea because there are over 10,000 religions, 150 of which have one million or more followers, not including branches of each religion.  Most of these religions have multiple holidays.  Therefore, it would be impossible to have messages for holidays in all other religions. 

Are they going to have greetings for Scientology holidays and Voodoo religion holidays?  Are they going to have messages for L. Ron Hubbard’s birthday, a holiday that is as important for Scientologists as Christmas is for Christians?  They can’t display messages for all religions so they should display messages for no religions.  Also, nobody’s taxpayer money should fund city buses that promote a religion he doesn’t believe in or that he opposes.

The bus drivers can choose which programmed messages they want to display at their own discretion so I doubt if many of them will display messages for religions that they don’t believe in.   Do they think bus drivers are going to display messages for Diwali or Ramadan?  Are they going to force bus drivers to display messages?  How is this going to be enforced?  Are they going to discipline bus drivers who refuse to display messages?

If “merry Christmas” messages are so important to people, they can stick them on their own personal vehicles or even pay for private advertisements inside the bus containing this message.  The city shouldn’t be displaying this message on its own along with the route name and number on programmable bus signs.

My opponents are being extremely petty by insisting on having Christian prayer recitations at city events and Christian messages on city buses.

In a free society, the majority cannot discriminate against the minority.  In a free society, the rights of the minority must be protected from the misdirected will of the majority. 

Instead of discriminating against religious minorities, politicians should be respecting all religious minorities.  Instead of engaging in religious bigotry, politicians should be fighting to stop religious bigotry.  Instead of imposing their religious beliefs on others, politicians should not use their offices and government events to promote their own religions.

In a constitutional democracy like Canada, the majority cannot discriminate against the minority.  This isn't a Christian city or Christian country.  This is a secular multireligious city in a secular multireligious country with people from numerous religions as well as nonreligious spiritual people, agnostics, and atheists.  We need to respect everybody.  We need to protect the rights of the minority from the discriminatory will of the majority.

G. Secular Pre-Meal Recitation 

After I filed a civil rights case against the City of Saskatoon (Saskatoon City Hall) for prayer recitations at its events, people wanted City Hall to continue reciting some kind of pre-meal thanks. I don't understand why when people can pray on their own to their own ideas of the divine or just go ahead and dine. A city solicitor tried drafting a pre-meal thanks, but was unable to make it secular so I wrote a secular pre-meal thanks that's printed in this article:

https://globalnews.ca/news/923210/solo-proposes-compromise-in-prayer-complaint/

The City of Saskatoon didn’t accept this secular pre-meal thanks as a means of resolving the case.

H. Christmas Messages on City of Saskatoon (Saskatoon City Hall) Buses

My secularism case regarding Christmas messages on City of Saskatoon (Saskatoon City Hall) buses was more important than my secularism case regarding prayer recitations at city events because the former were much more frequent.  

People argue that Christmas and Easter are already secular celebrations to people, but the people they're talking about are mostly of Christian ancestry and the same can be said about all religious holidays. Hanukkah is a secular celebration to non-Jews who are of Jewish ancestry and Eid al-Fitr is a secular celebration to non-Muslims who are of Muslim ancestry, but the U.S. and other western countries don't have federal or statutory holidays for any religion but Christianity. 

As a result of my secularism case against Christmas messages on buses, the City of Saskatoon (Saskatoon City Hall) added messages for a few other religions.  The problem with this is they're still excluding messages for over 10,000 religions, most of the bus drivers are only displaying the Christmas messages, and the bus drivers display the Christmas messages for about a month while displaying messages for other religions for a day.

There are Christians calling for boycotts of stores that don't say "merry Christmas" to people.  It's completely wacko to boycott a store for trying to be inclusive and not say "merry Christmas" to people who don't celebrate it.  These people calling for boycotts of stores aren't trying to spread good cheer.  They're trying to force stores to push Christianity on people.

After I filed my secularism case for Christmas messages on buses, for several years, I got countless messages from people I don't know saying "merry Christmas."  These messages were frequently followed or preceded by messages of hatred.  You can see two examples of this in the hate messages below.  They weren't telling me to have a merry Christmas because they wanted to spread good cheer.  They were telling me to have a merry Christmas and preceding or following that with messages of hate to try to annoy me and anger me.

Similarly, after there were numerous complaints against Christmas messages on City of Saskatoon (Saskatoon City Hall) buses, as you can see in Saskatoon City Council agendas, people don't want the Christmas messages left on there to spread good cheer.  They want the messages left on there to push their religion on people.

It is inappropriate and discriminatory to have a Christmas message displayed by Saskatoon Transit Services, which is owned by the City of Saskatoon and funded by taxpayers.  People are free to put “merry Christmas” bumper stickers on their personal vehicles, but the City of Saskatoon is not free to put “merry Christmas” signs on Saskatoon Transit buses or other City of Saskatoon vehicles.  If the “merry Christmas” message was from a private advertiser on one of the internal bus signs, this would be acceptable, but it is not acceptable for Saskatoon Transit Services to display this message on its own. 

I. Statutory Holidays for Christmas and Easter

It's discriminatory for the government to have statutory holidays for only one religion while ignoring holidays for other religions.

A lot of religious minorities and nonreligious people aren't comfortable celebrating Easter and Christmas and having their kids celebrate Easter and Christmas because they're Christian festivals. I created secular options that they can celebrate instead. Nobody should have a problem with that unless he wants to indoctrinate people into Christianity or discriminate against people who aren't Christian.

I originated alternative holidays to Christmas and Easter not because I have a problem with Christians celebrating Christmas and Easter, but because I have a major problem with the government having statutory holidays for Christmas and Easter.  As long as there are statutory holidays for Christmas and Easter, people who aren't Christian can celebrate the holidays as Christmyth and Feaster:

"Feaster: A Holiday Alternative to Easter" by Ashu M. G. Solo

"Christmyth: A Holiday Alternative to Christmas" by Ashu M. G. Solo

Instead of Christmas and Good Friday being statutory holidays, people should get two or three days that they can take off according to their own religions or convenience. If an organization like a retail store doesn't have enough people available to work on a particular day, such as Christmas, it can still close for that day. Private companies and organizations can close down on whatever days they like, but the government shouldn't declare Christmas and Good Friday as statutory holidays. Schools can have two winter breaks instead of calling them Christmas and Easter breaks.

Christians could take their holidays on Christmas and Easter, Jews could take their holidays during Hanukkah, Hindus could take their holidays on Diwali and Holi, other people could take holidays according to their own religions or even cults, and nonreligious people could take their holidays whenever they want. This is the best way to accommodate everyone including Christians.

This would help businesses because they could have non-Christian workers available to work on Christmas and Good Friday. Movie theaters, drug stores, bowling alleys, arcades, pool halls, restaurants, etc. would probably like to open on Christmas and Good Friday.

In R. v. Big M Drug Mart Ltd. (1985), the Supreme Court of Canada invalidated laws requiring businesses to be closed on Sundays, which are a Christian Sabbath or days of rest. The court said that the Parliament of Canada requiring Canadians to observe "the day of rest preferred by one religion" violated the guarantee of freedom of religion in section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and contradicts multiculturalism in section 27 of the charter. Therefore, it can also be argued that having Christmas and Good Friday as statutory holidays violates section 2 and section 27 of the charter.

J. Other Secularism Complaints

I made nine other secularism complaints that I never told the media about. Nobody can stop me. One of the secularism complaints was made to the military. Two were made to a university. One was made to a school board. Two were made to public schools. One was made to a community association. I don't care what private companies do. I don't care what individuals do. I'll list all of my secularism complaints in my condensed professional biography in the future.

I only told the media about the two secularism cases that were filed with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. I didn't need to go or didn't have legal standing to go to a human rights commission for the other nine secularism complaints. I found that I got better results when the public didn't know what I was doing.

K. Timidity in Fighting for Secularism and Religious Liberty

The Saskatoon municipal government (City of Saskatoon) was having Christian prayer recitations at volunteer appreciation banquets. Hundreds and possibly thousands of people including city councillors and a mayor attended these banquets. The mayor supported the prayer recitations. The city councillors who didn't complain about the prayer recitations are gutless cowards or brazen bigots and should be ashamed of themselves.

Nobody else complained about the prayer recitations at government events. Why wouldn't they complain? There are four main reasons: They supported the prayer recitations, they didn't care about the prayer recitations, they didn't understand their civil rights, or they didn't have the guts to stand up for their civil rights. None of these four reasons applied to me.

As soon as I heard the prayer recitation, I decided to complain. I started by complaining to the people on my table. The next day I contacted the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission and sent an email to the mayor and copied it to the media. You can see the email in the first post on this blog. I gave Saskatoon City Hall the opportunity to stop having prayer recitations before proceeding with a civil rights case with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.

If I had sat through the discrimination and bigotry of a prayer recitation at a government event and not complained about it like countless other people in Saskatoon, then I shouldn't have been an infantry officer, then I wouldn't have the guts to be an infantry officer, and then I would have been unworthy of being an infantry officer.

Officers are the leaders in the military. Officers lead soldiers into combat. Military officers shouldn't be cowards.

The military fights for liberty, justice, and equity in foreign territory, but what about liberty, justice, and equity within the domestic military? The Canadian military is full of bigotry. In fact, the Canadian military indoctrinates people into some forms of bigotry. Anyone who claims otherwise is either lying or doesn't understand the meaning of bigotry. I don't get indoctrinated into bigotry. The truth is the Canadian military is rampant with bigotry because a lot of its officers support the bigotry or don't have the guts to fight against the bigotry.

Officers are supposed to be the leaders in the military. What kind of leader turns a blind eye to abuse of authority? If an officer doesn't have the guts to fight for liberty, justice, and equity in civilian society, how can he claim to have the guts to fight for liberty, justice, and equity in the Canadian military and in foreign territory? Someone shouldn't be an officer in the military if he doesn't have the guts to fight for liberty, justice, and equity in foreign territory, in the domestic military, and in civilian society.

Some extremely stupid and extremely ignorant individuals sent me messages saying they were surprised that someone who served in the military would make complaints about the government promoting Christianity. These extremely stupid and extremely ignorant individuals know nothing about the role of the military in this country.

The military isn't supposed to fight for Christianity. The military is supposed to fight for religious liberty. The military has no credibility in fighting for religious liberty in Afghanistan if there isn't even religious liberty in Canada.

When someone remains silent about tyranny, injustice, or inequity, that person is leaving it for others to fight for liberty, justice, and equity.

If you don't fight for liberty, justice, and equity, then who will fight for liberty, justice, and equity? If you don't fight now for liberty, justice, and equity, then when will you fight for liberty, justice, and equity?

The people with the guts to fight for liberty, justice, and equity in or out of the military shouldn't be penalized for doing what others don't dare in or out of the military.

Fighting for liberty, justice, and equity or against other wrongs in society doesn't gain you popularity, but popularity has nothing to do with reputation or respectability.

Thomas Paine was widely hated for openly expressing his opinions. Only six people attended his funeral, but he played key roles in launching the American Revolution and French Revolution. He didn't have popularity, but he'll live forever in history.

Senator Robert F. Kennedy said, "Few are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change."

President John F. Kennedy said in his book Profiles in Courage, "A man does what he mustin spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressuresand that is the basis of all human morality."

L. Atheism and Secularism

Some extremely stupid and extremely ignorant people thought I was trying to push atheism with my secularism cases. The secularism cases had absolutely nothing to do with atheism.

Atheism is not secularism. Atheism is a belief in no God. Secularism is about a separation of religion and state. Secularism is part of religious liberty and is good for people of all religions, nonreligious spiritual people, atheists, and agnostics.

Trying to get people to stop participating in religion is atheism activism. Trying to get people to stop forcing others to participate in religion is secularism activism. I concern myself with the latter, not the former.

Many atheists oppose religious accommodations and mock religious people. I strongly support religious liberty including full religious accommodation, I don't discriminate against religious people, I don't care if people are religious, I don't try to convert religious people to atheism, and I never insult people for their religious beliefs.

M. Ignorance and Stupidity in Society

As a result of my activism, I saw that there is a stunning amount of ignorance among the general public.

I copied five of the hate messages I received below. You can see in these hate messages that they can't write coherently and can't even think logically. How did they graduate from elementary school? It's surprising that they can function in society.

You can see in these hate messages that a few of them think I'm a Muslim or have Muslim ancestry. They clearly think that anyone who is nonwhite is a Muslim or has Muslim ancestry. How did they graduate from elementary school?

There are over 10,000 religions in the world, 150 of which have over one million followers, not including branches of each religion. The over 10,000 religions are listed in the World Christian Encyclopedia for Christian missionaries to see who they can try to convert. A person really has to be extremely ignorant and extremely stupid to assume that someone who is nonwhite is a Muslim or has Muslim ancestry.

One extremely ignorant and extremely stupid individual sent me a message in Arabic and assumed I can read it. I'm not from the Middle East. When I put it in Google Translate, it looked like a prayer. Another extremely ignorant and extremely stupid individual claimed that I'm a secular Muslim. How did they graduate from elementary school?

I've never been a Muslim and have no Muslim ancestry, but I really don't care at all if people think I'm Muslim because I have no problem with people of any religion.

A lot of people thought that my secularism cases against government promotion of Christianity are fighting against religious liberty. How did they graduate from elementary school? Only extremely stupid and extremely ignorant people could think that fighting against government promotion of Christianity is fighting against religious liberty.

The purpose of government promotion of Christianity is to indoctrinate people into Christianity, send a message that this is a Christian society, and send a message that people need to convert to Christianity to fit into society.

The type of secularism I support is part of religious liberty. It protects religion from the state, protects the state from religion, and ensures that people of all religions, nonreligious spiritual people, agnostics, and atheists are treated equally.

N. Hate Messages

Reader discretion is advised.

The most pathetic hate message I got for my secularism cases was from an extremely pathetic loser who said I should fit in or f*** off. Only an extremely pathetic coward would have such a mentality. Only an extremely pathetic weak-minded coward feels the need to fit in with bigotry. Cowards conform. Heroes reform. Cowards accept wrong to get along. Heroes accept no wrong. Only a cowardly loser accepts discrimination and bigotry against his own group of minority to fit in with the majority. I don't want to fit in with discrimination and bigotry. I fight for liberty, justice, and equity.

Below you can see the kind of dirty filthy bigots you have associated yourself with if you are a Christian supremacist. Below are five of countless hate messages sent to me from Christian supremacists because I fought for secularism:

I hate you!!!!!!!!!!!! How dare you? Your karma will come back at you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you get hit by a bus on Easter Sunday! Good thing you don't live in Alberta!

I should start a crowd funding campaign for your return to Mecca I should ask the press demand you show your birth certificate to prove you're Canadian

Merry Christmas dickweed
Oh shit you are just another one of those ragheads posing as a Canadian.. sorry my bad, thought you were actually a Canadian who meant something.. Merry Christmas anyhow dickhead..

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HANUKKAH from all of your ape and swine friends! I don't care if you were born here or not but take your Quran fuck right eh! you hoser!

If a message on a bus offends you or makes "new comers" feel ostracized because they are immigrating to a country that is fundamentally a judeo-Christian county then they need to get back on the boat! The fact is thought that many people have been immigrating to north America for centuries that are non Christian.
Also according to a local bus ad in my city and from reading portions of the Quran....isn't Islam the "true way of life for jesus?

Thursday, April 13, 2023

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Letters by Ashu M. G. Solo in Agendas for Saskatoon City Council and Saskatoon Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee

Below are my letters included in City of Saskatoon (municipal government) agendas:
 
Ashu M. G. Solo [2021], letter on renaming John A. Macdonald Road, Additional Agenda Items:  Regular Business Meeting of City Council, Saskatoon, Sask., June 28, 2021, p. 21.
URL:  https://pub-saskatoon.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=139519

Ashu M. G. Solo [2021], letter on removing "his worship" wording for mayor from web form, Additional Agenda Items:  Regular Business Meeting of City Council, Saskatoon, Sask., June 28, 2021, p. 20.
URL:  https://pub-saskatoon.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=139519

Ashu M. G. Solo [2013], "Civil Rights Complaint against City of Saskatoon (Saskatoon Transit Services) for Christmas Messages on Programmable Bus Signs," Agenda of City Council, Saskatoon, Sask., Apr. 8, 2013, agenda item B5, pp. 418-426.
URL:  https://www.saskatoon.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-council/minutes/2013/fa_council_080413.pdf

Ashu M. G. Solo [2013], "Summary of My Presentation about Christmas Greetings on Buses to CD&RR Committee," Agenda of Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Feb. 14, 2013, 3 pages.

Ashu M. G. Solo [2013], "Christmas Messages on Saskatoon Transit Buses," Agenda of Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Feb. 14, 2013, 10 pages.

Ashu M. G. Solo [2013], "City of Saskatoon Wasting Taxpayer Money on Tote Bags," Agenda of City Council, Saskatoon, Sask., Jan. 7, 2013, agenda item C37, pp. 312-313.
URL:  https://www.saskatoon.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-council/minutes/2013/fa_council_070113.pdf

Reprint

Ashu M. G. Solo [2013], "Budget of Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee," Agenda of Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee for the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Sask., Jan. 10, 2013, 2 pages.

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Re: Return of the Snow Ramps


From: Ashu M. G. Solo <amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]>
Sent: Friday, February 2, 2018 6:21 PM
To: 'Figg, Carla (CP - Service Saskatoon)' <Carla.Figg@Saskatoon.ca>; 'TU - R&O Councillor Enquiry' <tuROCE@Saskatoon.ca>; 'Mayor and Councillors' <dlMayorandCouncillors@Saskatoon.ca>; 'Jorgenson, Jeff (City Manager's Office)' <Jeff.Jorgenson@Saskatoon.ca>; 'Warwick, Patti (Solicitors)' <Patti.Warwick@Saskatoon.ca>; 'Bogad, Christine (Solicitors)' <Christine.Bogad@Saskatoon.ca>; 'Mintenko, Julie (CP - Media Relations)' <Julie.Mintenko@Saskatoon.ca>; 'Rogstad, Mark (CP - Media Relations)' <Mark.Rogstad@Saskatoon.ca>; 'Harris, Brandon (TU - Roadways & Operations)' <Brandon.Harris@Saskatoon.ca>; 'Taylor, Jill (TU - Roadways & Operations)' <Jill.Taylor@Saskatoon.ca>
Subject: RE: [ ~20473 ] Re: Return of the Snow Ramps

Some members of the local media are interested in covering your failure to remove the snow ramps.  They were going to cover the issue based on my email to you a few days ago, but you removed the snow ramps before they could get photographs.  I told them I’ll let them know next time I see a dangerous snow ramp more than two days after a big snowfall.  I've often seen dangerous snow ramps many days after snow falls.  I suggest that you pay more attention to clearing them.

Also, if I witness anymore violations of secularism by the City of Saskatoon, I will report that to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.  I’m not a complacent coward who turns a blind eye to civil rights violations like most people do.  The local, provincial, and national media will certainly cover any civil rights cases I file with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission like they did before.

If I get racially profiled (or selected for carding based on race) by the Saskatoon police, I’ll file a civil rights case with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission against them too.  I’m not a gutless coward who accepts being discriminated against like most people do.  I suggest that the Police Services Board warns the Saskatoon police to stop racially profiling and carding people.

Furthermore, I will report any council members who violate their code of conduct to the City Clerk’s Office.  The local media will likely cover that like they covered my two code of conduct complaints against Don Atchison and my code of conduct complaint against Charlie Clark.  I don’t believe that there should be restrictions on using the titles of “councillor” and “mayor” in campaign advertising, but if we’re expected to follow the inane by-laws made by council, then council should follow its own inane rules too.  I suggest that you end the restrictions on using the titles of “councillor” and “mayor” in campaign advertising.

Sincerely,

Ashu M. G. Solo

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Re: Return of the Snow Ramps

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: Thursday, February 1, 2018 7:11 PM
To: 'Figg, Carla (CP - Service Saskatoon)' <Carla.Figg@Saskatoon.ca>; 'TU - R&O Councillor Enquiry' <tuROCE@Saskatoon.ca>
Cc: 'Mayor and Councillors' <dlMayorandCouncillors@Saskatoon.ca>; 'Jorgenson, Jeff (City Manager's Office)' <Jeff.Jorgenson@Saskatoon.ca>; 'Warwick, Patti (Solicitors)' <Patti.Warwick@Saskatoon.ca>; 'Bogad, Christine (Solicitors)' <Christine.Bogad@Saskatoon.ca>; 'Mintenko, Julie (CP - Media Relations)' <Julie.Mintenko@Saskatoon.ca>; 'Rogstad, Mark (CP - Media Relations)' <Mark.Rogstad@Saskatoon.ca>; 'Harris, Brandon (TU - Roadways & Operations)' <Brandon.Harris@Saskatoon.ca>; 'Taylor, Jill (TU - Roadways & Operations)' <Jill.Taylor@Saskatoon.ca>
Subject: RE: [ ~20473 ] Re: Return of the Snow Ramps

Hi Ms. Figg,

The City of Saskatoon believes the snow ramps aren’t a safety problem, but it can’t prove this.  As Stephen Hawking said, “What one believes is irrelevant to physics.”

The barriers on bridges and overpasses need to be made much higher to prevent cars from going over them due to snow ramps.  This would solve the problem of the snow ramps. 

Sincerely,

Ashu M. G. Solo

From: Figg, Carla (CP - Service Saskatoon)
Sent: Thursday, February 1, 2018 8:12 AM
To: amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us; TU - R&O Councillor Enquiry <tuROCE@Saskatoon.ca>
Cc: Mayor and Councillors <dlMayorandCouncillors@Saskatoon.ca>; Jorgenson, Jeff (City Manager's Office) <Jeff.Jorgenson@Saskatoon.ca>; Warwick, Patti (Solicitors) <Patti.Warwick@Saskatoon.ca>; Bogad, Christine (Solicitors) <Christine.Bogad@Saskatoon.ca>; Mintenko, Julie (CP - Media Relations) <Julie.Mintenko@Saskatoon.ca>; Rogstad, Mark (CP - Media Relations) <Mark.Rogstad@Saskatoon.ca>; Harris, Brandon (TU - Roadways & Operations) <Brandon.Harris@Saskatoon.ca>; Taylor, Jill (TU - Roadways & Operations) <Jill.Taylor@Saskatoon.ca>
Subject: RE: [ ~20473 ] Re: Return of the Snow Ramps

Good morning Mr. Solo,

The City of Saskatoon appreciates your concerns and will continue to monitor our bridges to ensure the snow ramps do not become a safety concern for the citizens.  We have full confidence in our engineers and roadways team, as they are taking all precautionary measures necessary.

Thank you again for voicing your concerns. 

Carla Figg


Carla M. Figg
Citizen Service Manager, Service Saskatoon
City of Saskatoon | 222 3rd Avenue North | Saskatoon, SK  S7K 0J5

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2018 12:38 AM
To: TU - R&O Councillor Enquiry <tuROCE@Saskatoon.ca>
Cc: Mayor and Councillors <dlMayorandCouncillors@Saskatoon.ca>; Jorgenson, Jeff (City Manager's Office) <Jeff.Jorgenson@Saskatoon.ca>; Warwick, Patti (Solicitors) <Patti.Warwick@Saskatoon.ca>; Bogad, Christine (Solicitors) <Christine.Bogad@Saskatoon.ca>; Mintenko, Julie (CP - Media Relations) <Julie.Mintenko@Saskatoon.ca>; Rogstad, Mark (CP - Media Relations) <Mark.Rogstad@Saskatoon.ca>; Harris, Brandon (TU - Roadways & Operations) <Brandon.Harris@Saskatoon.ca>; Figg, Carla (CP - Service Saskatoon) <Carla.Figg@Saskatoon.ca>
Subject: RE: [ ~20473 ] Re: Return of the Snow Ramps

Hi Ms. Taylor,

How can you be so sure that the remaining snow ramps won’t elevate a vehicle over the barrier?  Has there been any engineering analysis to determine if the snow ramps are steep enough and not dense enough to not elevate a small car over the barrier?  If so, who did the analysis and what was the methodology used?  I studied engineering and physics at top universities.  I don’t know how dense the snow ramps I saw this week were, but they were high enough and appeared not too steep to elevate a vehicle over the barrier.  I’m not claiming that you’re lying, but I don’t believe your opinion that the snow ramps won’t elevate a vehicle over the barrier.

Besides the 2013 incident where a vehicle went into the river, I’ve heard of another incident where a vehicle went over a Saskatoon overpass barrier due to a snow ramp.  

Saskatoon has really dangerous driving conditions due to the harsh weather, but also due to the City of Saskatoon not listening to taxpayers and not investing enough money and effort into de-icing and snow removal.  And we’re all paying for that.

Sincerely,

Ashu M. G. Solo


Good Morning Mr.Solo,

Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding snow removal along guardrails throughout Circle Drive.

This year our snow maintenance crews have been trained using a new process of up to 8 offset snow plows on Circle Drive, including overpasses and bridges. The introduction of this process has led to approximately 85% of barriers along Circle Drive being completely cleared of snow on the first pass. The remaining 15% is in what we call ‘no throw zones’. The snow that remains along 15% of the barriers is not dense enough, is at too steep an angle, and consists of an insubstantial amount of snow, to elevate a vehicle over the barrier.


Our operators avoid throwing snow over the barriers in a few isolated spots so as not to cause property damage, or put snow in pedestrian walkways. In these locations, we return to clear those spots using a snow-blower and hauling to the snow dump. Overall this service is much more efficient, reduces risks of ramping, and is less costly than methods used in the last 3 years.

The instance in 2013 was a result of snow from several events accumulating and packing against the barrier.  With the new process, although there may be snow visible against the barrier, we have alleviated the risk of ramping.

Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.

Regards, 


Jill Taylor 
Customer Support Coordinator, Customer Service and Operations Support
City of Saskatoon | 222 3rd Avenue North | Saskatoon, SK  S7K 0J5


From: Ashu M. G. Solo <amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]>
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2018 11:38 PM
To: 'mayors.office@saskatoon.ca' <mayors.office@saskatoon.ca>; 'charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca' <charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca>; 'darren.hill@saskatoon.ca' <darren.hill@saskatoon.ca>; 'hilary.gough@saskatoon.ca' <hilary.gough@saskatoon.ca>; 'ann.iwanchuk@saskatoon.ca' <ann.iwanchuk@saskatoon.ca>; 'troy.davies@saskatoon.ca' <troy.davies@saskatoon.ca>; 'randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca' <randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca>; 'cynthia.block@saskatoon.ca' <cynthia.block@saskatoon.ca>; 'mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca' <mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca>; 'sarina.gersher@saskatoon.ca' <sarina.gersher@saskatoon.ca>; 'bev.dubois@saskatoon.ca' <bev.dubois@saskatoon.ca>; 'zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca' <zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca>
Cc: 'Jeff.Jorgenson@Saskatoon.ca' <Jeff.Jorgenson@Saskatoon.ca>
Subject: Return of the Snow Ramps

I saw more snow ramps right up to the top of the curb this morning on the Circle Drive Bridge and an overpass on Circle Drive.  It has been several days since the heavy snowfall.  The snow ramps should have been a top priority to remove.  See my two emails below to the previous city council about this issue and see my StarPhoenix letter to the editor below about this issue.  You haven't heard from me in a while because I was out of town, but I'm back in Saskatoon for a little while.  

Ashu M. G. Solo

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 11:06 PM
To: 'mayors.office@saskatoon.ca' <mayors.office@saskatoon.ca>; 'darren.hill@saskatoon.ca' <darren.hill@saskatoon.ca>; 'troy.davies@saskatoon.ca' <troy.davies@saskatoon.ca>; 'pat.lorje@saskatoon.ca' <pat.lorje@saskatoon.ca>; 'charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca' <charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca>; 'mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca' <mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca>; 'zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca' <zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca>; 'ann.iwanchuk@saskatoon.ca' <ann.iwanchuk@saskatoon.ca>; 'tiffany.paulsen@saskatoon.ca' <tiffany.paulsen@saskatoon.ca>; 'randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca' <randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca>
Subject: RE: City of Saskatoon misleading public about snow ramps

When you fail to adequately fund snow removal because you’re wasting money as specified in my email below, you cause more accidents, injuries, deaths, auto damage claims with SGI, SGI payouts, civil claims, police investigations, loss of work, problems for people, and so on.  Much if not all of the money saved by not funding snow removal is paid out by other government organizations in paying for more SGI claims and staff, more police, more court cases and staff, etc.  The totally inept handling of snow removal funding by this council has really made this city a much worse place.

There was a protest against police corruption in Saskatoon on Mar. 15, 2016.  One of the issues raised was carding by police, a practice that is disproportionately used against minorities, particularly indigenous people in Saskatoon.  The Police Services Board needs to immediately put a stop to this practice.  Darren Hill and Charlie Clark on the Police Services Board have never experienced racist profiling because they’re white, but I have.  Walk a mile in a nonwhite person’s shoes with your mind.  Wake up.  Wake the hell up and do the right thing.  End the practice of carding.

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2016 8:01 AM
To: murray.totland@saskatoon.ca; 'Jeff.Jorgenson@Saskatoon.ca' <Jeff.Jorgenson@Saskatoon.ca>; 'pat.hyde@saskatoon.ca' <pat.hyde@saskatoon.ca>; 'mayors.office@saskatoon.ca' <mayors.office@saskatoon.ca>; 'darren.hill@saskatoon.ca' <darren.hill@saskatoon.ca>; 'troy.davies@saskatoon.ca' <troy.davies@saskatoon.ca>; 'pat.lorje@saskatoon.ca' <pat.lorje@saskatoon.ca>; 'charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca' <charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca>; 'mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca' <mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca>; 'zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca' <zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca>; 'ann.iwanchuk@saskatoon.ca' <ann.iwanchuk@saskatoon.ca>; 'tiffany.paulsen@saskatoon.ca' <tiffany.paulsen@saskatoon.ca>
Subject: City of Saskatoon misleading public about snow ramps

On the City of Saskatoon’s Facebook and Twitter pages, the city is misleading the public about snow ramps on the sides of bridges and overpasses and implying that the snow ramps have been removed.  I drove over some of the bridges and overpasses a few hours ago.  I saw snow ramps that go right to the top of the rails on the North Circle Drive Bridge and snow ramps that go to the top of the side barriers on several overpasses on Circle Drive.  I’m blind copying this email to the media, so they can hold the city accountable.  Also, on Sunday, January 17, 2016, I saw snow ramps going to the top of the bridge rails on the North Circle Drive Bridge and on Circle Drive overpasses.

I cautioned you months ago that there were still snow ramps on the sides of bridges and the problem still exists.  I understand that the totally incompetent and uncaring City Council isn’t allocating enough funds for snow removal, but removing the snow ramps on the sides of bridges and overpasses should be a top priority.  There were 53 driving accidents on Tuesday, January 19, 2016.  You can tell people to slow down, but that’s often not enough. 

Below is a letter to the editor by me that was published in The StarPhoenix and that is available online at


Remember the snow ramps that launched a car off a bridge in 2013? They're back: Letter to the Editor

JANUARY 21, 2016 11:00 AM
Once again there are snow ramps on the sides of bridges in Saskatoon. In 2013, such a ramp caused a vehicle to go from the North Circle Drive Bridge into the South Saskatchewan River.

The streets now are extremely icy, which is causing countless accidents. How many people need to drive off bridges before city council wakes up and allocates enough money for snow removal and de-icing?  How many winter driving accidents do there need to be before they open their eyes?
How many people need to be injured or killed, and how many cars need to be damaged before the mayor and councillors care?  How many voters need to tell them to increase funding for snow removal before they listen?
City council has instead wasted taxpayers’ money on a new police station, an art gallery, Tasers for police, a transit lockout and excessive salaries and benefits for councillors. The mayor and councillors are inept and need to be removed from office in the next election.
Ashu Solo, Saskatoon, from Jan. 21, Letters to the Editor


Sincerely,

Ashu M. G. Solo