City of Saskatoon Wasting Taxpayer Money on Tote Bags

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2012 11:27 PM
Subject: City of Saskatoon Wasting Taxpayer Money on Tote Bags

Dear City of Saskatoon Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee:

As you know, the City of Saskatoon Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee has spent $500 of taxpayer money on souvenir tote bags and the City of Saskatoon Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Office has spent $490 of taxpayer money on souvenir tote bags in 2012.  I understand that this money is spent every year on souvenir tote bags for distribution at various civic events related to cultural diversity.  I voted against the committee’s expenditure on the tote bags.  Although this might not seem like a large expenditure for the City of Saskatoon, all of these minor expenditures add up.  The city should not be in the business of wasting taxpayer money on souvenir tote bags for people.  Taxpayer money doesn’t grow on trees.  The City of Saskatoon seems to think that it does.  I’m fed up with government waste.  How many parking tickets need to be given out every year so souvenir tote bags can be freely distributed every year?  Over 50. 

The stated purpose of this $990 expenditure on tote bags was to promote the committee.  Tote bags are an expensive way to promote the committee and do not promote the committee.  They’re going to end up in people’s closets or drawers and they will likely never use them again.  They aren’t considered “cool” to use.  If you want to give something out to promote the committee, I suggest that you give out photocopied handouts on the committee for about five cents per handout.  I suggested this before.  The handouts can include pictures of the winning painting from the Living in Harmony contest.  Handing out free souvenir tote bags doesn’t make the people of Saskatoon more respectful of cultural and racial diversity.  It’s ridiculous to think that it does. 

The Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee does not need to promote itself anymore.  This email message is to tell you that the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee has received massive media attention during the past year because of a civil rights complaint that I made against Mayor Don Atchison, Councillor Randy Donauer, and the City of Saskatoon, because of a Code of Conduct complaint that I made against Atchison, and because of a civil rights complaint that I made against Saskatoon Transit and the City of Saskatoon.  Much of the media coverage of my complaints mentioned that I was a representative on the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee.  I made it clear that I’m not speaking as part of my work on the committee because the committee focuses on education and awareness, not advocacy.  You can see more information on these complaints at http://atchison-discrimination.blogspot.ca  

You can see many of the media mentions of the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee by doing a Google search on “Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee” + “Ashu Solo”  This Google search can be seen below:

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22cultural+diversity+and+race+relations+committee%22+retreat&rlz=1C1SKPL_enCA442CA442&oq=%22cultural+diversity+and+race+relations+committee%22+retreat&sugexp=chrome,mod=14&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#q=%22cultural+diversity+and+race+relations+committee%22+%2B+%22ashu+solo%22&hl=en&tbo=d&rlz=1C1SKPL_enCA442CA442&psj=1&ei=g6O9UK_2M8fM2gWd_YCQDg&start=140&sa=N&filter=0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=c5e25338c63d6017&bpcl=39580677&biw=1366&bih=613

You can also see many more of the media mentions of the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee by doing a Google search on “Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee” + “Ashu M. G. Solo”  This Google search can be seen below:

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22cultural+diversity+and+race+relations+committee%22+retreat&rlz=1C1SKPL_enCA442CA442&oq=%22cultural+diversity+and+race+relations+committee%22+retreat&sugexp=chrome,mod=14&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#hl=en&tbo=d&rlz=1C1SKPL_enCA442CA442&sclient=psy-ab&q=%22cultural+diversity+and+race+relations+committee%22+%2B+%22ashu+m.+g.+solo%22&oq=%22cultural+diversity+and+race+relations+committee%22+%2B+%22ashu+m.+g.+solo%22&gs_l=serp.3...6058252.6058686.1.6058887.6.5.0.0.0.4.216.935.0j3j2.5.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.1.6Lp_VSK_0Zg&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=c6a0557658b1052a&bpcl=40096503&biw=1366&bih=570

As you can see, there are over 6100 hits on “Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee” + “Ashu Solo” and “Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee” + “Ashu M. G. Solo” during the past year.  Furthermore, much of the radio and T.V. media coverage of my complaints mentioned that I was a representative on the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee.  This radio and T.V. media coverage is not included in the over 6100 hits above.  A single mention on T.V., radio, or a news article that I was on the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee does infinitely more to promote the existence of the committee than all of the tote bags that you could ever hand out for free.

The committee does not need more promotion through wasting taxpayer money on tote bags.  Also, the committee does not need more promotion through having ads in University of Saskatchewan student handbooks.  Tote bags and student handbook ads will have an extremely minimal impact in promoting the committee in comparison to the promotion of the committee through the massive media coverage on my complaints.  Taxpayer money should be carefully spent, not wasted like it grows on trees.

Furthermore, the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee retreat should be held at a location that doesn’t cost any extra taxpayer money like City Hall instead of at an extravagant expensive location.  I haven’t been to a retreat, but I don’t see anything wrong with the conference room that we used for meetings.  I understand the retreat is only four hours long.  The committee shouldn’t waste taxpayer money on extravagant expenditures like City Council has been doing because the City of Saskatoon is now really short of revenues and City Council just increased property taxes by 5% and is considering parking meter fees after 6:00 PM and bridge tolls. 

I don’t like that my taxpayer money goes toward these wasteful expenditures and I feel bound my conscience to speak against this in this email message.  Some people might not like this, but I don’t care.  I’m not trying to win a popularity contest or I wouldn’t have made the complaints that I did.  This is my last email message to the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee.  Please forward this email message to newly appointed members of the committee whose email addresses I don’t have. 

I am blind copying this email message to City Council and the media, so that they know about this waste of taxpayer money and can monitor if it happens in the future.  The Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Office coordinator knows more about the tote bags.  If the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee or Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Office wastes money on souvenir tote bags again, I’ll write my own article for the media on this waste of taxpayer money.

Best regards,

Ashu M. G. Solo

Update on Civil Rights Case Regarding Christmas Messages on Buses and Religious Messages by the State

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: Monday, December 24, 2012 9:10 AM
To: amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us
Subject: Update on Civil Rights Case Regarding Christmas Messages on Buses and Religious Messages by the State

Dear Media and Saskatoon City Solicitor’s Office,

City Council’s decision to leave the “merry Christmas” greeting on buses was cowardly and bigoted.  City Council has referred this issue to the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee, an advisory committee to City Council.  Having served on that committee, I know its members are fairly progressive.  Because the Christmas messages will only be on the buses for another day I assume and then won’t be up again for 11 months, I will wait and see what recommendations the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee makes and whether City Council adopts them.  If the policy resulting from this process is discriminatory, I will proceed with a civil right complaint to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.  If this goes to the human rights commission, I will seek a judgment that has the effect of banning religious messages by the state throughout the province of Saskatchewan and that has persuasive value in other provinces too.

City Council says that instead of getting rid of “merry Christmas” greetings on buses, it may include messages for other cultural holidays.  This is better than before when they only had a Christmas message, so I’ve already won a partial victory.  However, this is not a practical idea because there are over 10,000 religions, 150 of which have 1 million or more followers:  http://www.adherents.com/misc/WCE.html  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?  They would have to hire a staff just to figure out all of the religious holidays and program all of them into each of the 100 buses in the fleet.  The bus drivers can choose which programmed messages they want to display at their discretion, so I doubt if many of them will display messages for religions that they don’t believe in.  I wouldn’t.  Are you going to force bus drivers to display messages for religions that they don’t believe in?  This is a totally impractical idea.

I was told that Christians have a religious requirement to push their religion onto others.  That’s why there is so much opposition to removal of Christmas greetings from buses.  They should not be using the state for proselytization.  If Christmas greetings are so important to them, they can put them on their own personal vehicles instead of on city buses.  “Merry Christmas” might be a secular greeting to many, but it is also a religious greeting to many.  Otherwise they would not oppose getting rid of the greeting or replacing it with a more inclusive greeting like “happy holidays.”  Many Christians say “merry Christmas” to push their religion onto others and that’s why some of them boycott retail stores where clerks are told to not say “merry Christmas” to customers. 

“Merry Christmas” on programmable bus signs doesn’t offend many people who are of Christian ancestry because their families celebrate it and they're accustomed to it.  People argue that Christmas is secular to non-Christians, but the people that they’re talking about are mostly of Christian ancestry and the same can be said about all religious holidays.  Eid is secular to non-Muslims who are of Muslim ancestry.  Hannukah is secular to non-Jews who are of Jewish ancestry.  But the bus doesn't display messages for Eid or Hannukah.  It can't display messages for all religions because there are over 10,000 religions, 150 of which have 1 million or more followers (http://www.adherents.com/misc/WCE.html).  This doesn't include branches of each religion.  Therefore, it shouldn't display messages for any religions.   

It has been claimed by some that this issue is petty.  If it’s petty, why did I get massive media coverage, numerous hate messages, and threats?  This is a yearly occurrence on Saskatoon buses.  I’m not the one being petty.  My opponents are the ones being petty by insisting on having “merry Christmas” on Saskatoon buses instead of “happy holidays.”  This isn't just about religious messages on Saskatoon buses.  If this goes to the human rights commission, this is about getting a permanent ban on religious messages by the state throughout the province.  Also, I strongly believe that it’s always better to vigorously stand up for what’s right than passively sit down for what’s wrong.  Finally, I wanted to start a national debate on religious messages by the state like I started a national debate on prayer recitations at civic events and that's exactly what I’ve done.

My opponents either don’t care about religious liberty or secularism or don’t understand the fundamentals of religious liberty and secularism.  Those who aren’t of Christian ancestry who oppose me are bootlickers, minions, and myrmidons to the Christian majority.  They need to have more dignity and stand up for their rights as minorities instead of trying to ingratiate themselves with the majority.

I don’t like my taxpayer money funding buses that promote a religion I don’t believe in.  I was born here, served in the army reserve here, and don’t have to tolerate religion in government here.  It’s hypocritical for the Canadian Armed Forces to fight for separation of religion and state in Kabul when this doesn’t fully exist in Saskatoon. 

Canadians like to believe that their country is respectful of diversity, but the extremely racist and bigoted backlash against me proves that Canada is an extremely racist and bigoted country.  The racist and bigoted backlash shows how important it is to make complaints like this.  The racist and bigoted backlash for my prayer recitation complaint motivated me to make this complaint.  The racist and bigoted backlash for this complaint motivates me to make more complaints in the future.

Ms. Christine Bogad, you wanted me to send my emails regarding this matter to you instead of directly to City Council.  Please forward this email to City Council and Saskatoon Transit management and acknowledge doing so or I can forward it to them.  This email message will also be posted at http://atchison-discrimination.blogspot.ca.

I have many more complaints planned to advance the birthrights of liberty.  I made many complaints before the prayer recitation complaint, but didn’t make them public.  I got two other discriminatory city policies changed this year by not telling the public about them.  If I hadn’t told the media about this complaint on Christmas messages on buses, I think the city manager would have gotten rid of the discriminatory message and nobody in the public would have known the difference, so maybe I made a mistake by making this complaint public, but at least I started a national debate on this issue.  I make these complaints because not only is the business of government the business of people, but the business of people is the business of government.

Best regards,

Ashu M. G. Solo

Christmas messages on buses

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us] 

Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2012 1:02 PM
To: 'mayors.office@saskatoon.ca'; 'randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca'; 'eric.olauson@saskatoon.ca'; 'darren.hill@saskatoon.ca'; 'pat.lorje@saskatoon.ca'; 'charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca'; 'mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca'; 'troy.davies@saskatoon.ca'; 'zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca'; 'ann.iwanchuk@saskatoon.ca'; 'tiffany.paulsen@saskatoon.ca'
Cc: Murray Totland
Subject: Christmas messages on buses

City Council,

“Merry Christmas” on programmable bus signs doesn’t offend many people who are of Christian ancestry because their families celebrate it and they're accustomed to it.  I’m not of Christian ancestry and it offends me.  It offends other people too.  Why do you want to offend people?  Why does “merry Christmas” need to be on programmable bus signs?  If “merry Christmas” is so important to people, they can stick it on their own vehicles.  I don’t want my taxpayer money funding city buses that promote a religion I don’t believe in. 

People argue that Christmas is secular to non-Christians, but the people they’re talking about are mostly of Christian ancestry and the same can be said about all religious holidays.  Eid is secular to non-Muslims who are of Muslim ancestry. Hannukah is secular to non-Jews who are of Jewish ancestry.  But the bus doesn't display messages for Eid or Hannukah.  It can't display messages for all religions because there are over 10,000 religions, 150 of which have 1 million or more followers (http://www.adherents.com/misc/WCE.html).  This doesn't include branches of each religion.  Therefore, it shouldn't display messages for any religions.

A group of people approached me to make this complaint, but I was also extremely offended by the Christmas message when I saw it and made this complaint.

It has been claimed by some that this issue is petty.  If it’s petty, why are you budding into this issue?  If it’s petty, why did I get massive media coverage?  If it’s petty, why did I get numerous hate messages?  If it’s petty, why did I get a threat?  This is a yearly occurrence on Saskatoon buses.  I’m not the one being petty.  My opponents are the ones being petty by insisting on having “merry Christmas” on Saskatoon buses.  This isn't just about religious messages on Saskatoon buses.  If this goes to the human rights commission, this is about getting a permanent ban on religious messages by the state throughout the province.  I strongly believe that it’s always better to vigorously stand up for what’s right than passively sit down for what’s wrong.  I wanted to start a national debate on religious messages by the state like I started a national debate on prayer recitations at civic events and that's what exactly what I’ve done.  I’m on the nationally syndicated Roy Green Show today to discuss this complaint.

Take a look at some of the online comments in articles on my bus message case and see the religious bigotry and racism that you're defending by wanting to keep religious messages on city buses.  You're supporting the people making these hateful statements against me and the person who made a threat against me.

Ashu M. G. Solo

MEDIA ADVISORY: Citizen Makes Complaint against City of Saskatoon for Christmas Message by Saskatoon Transit on Programmable Bus Signs

MEDIA ADVISORY:  Citizen Makes Complaint against City of Saskatoon for Christmas Message by Saskatoon Transit on Programmable Bus Signs

SASKATOON, SK, Dec. 13, 2012 - Ashu M. G. Solo made a new complaint to the City of Saskatoon and Saskatoon Transit about them displaying “merry Christmas” on programmable bus signs for Saskatoon Transit buses.  Solo has given Saskatoon Transit until December 22, 2012 to stop displaying this message on programmable bus signs or else he will make a civil rights complaint to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (SHRC).  If this case goes to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, Solo will seek a judgment that has the effect of banning religious messages by government organizations throughout the province of Saskatchewan and that has persuasive value in other provinces too. 

Saskatoon Transit is owned by the City of Saskatoon.  If Saskatoon Transit were not owned by the government, Solo wouldn’t make this complaint.  

Solo previously made a civil rights complaint against Mayor Don Atchison, Councillor Randy Donauer, and the City of Saskatoon with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (SHRC) after Atchison called on Donauer to deliver a Christian prayer recitation at a Volunteer Appreciation Banquet organized by the Mayor’s Office.  SHRC is currently determining which aspects of the complaint to proceed with, which respondents to proceed against, and which sections of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code may have been violated.  In this case, Solo is seeking a judgment that has the effect of banning prayer recitations at civic events throughout the province of Saskatchewan and that has persuasive value in other provinces too. 

On the Christmas message and prayer recitation, Solo said, “This violates the separation of religion and state, imposes religious beliefs on people who don't share them, and gives preferential treatment to one religion over all other religions in violation of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”

On secularism, Solo said, “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.  Secularism protects religion from the state and the state from religion.  Separation of religion and state is a fundamental aspect of freedom of religion.”

Below you can see the complaint sent  to Bob Howe, Saskatoon Transit manager, Harold Matthies, Saskatoon Transit operations manager, and Murray Totland, Saskatoon city manager.  Totland forwarded it to Patti Warwick, Saskatoon city solicitor.

For further information:

Ashu Solo

amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us

See the complaint and acknowledgement below.

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 12:11 PM
To: Bob Howe; Harold Matthies; Murray Totland
Subject: More Religious Discrimination by City of Saskatoon and Another Potential Civil Rights Complaint against City of Saskatoon

Dear Mr. Bob Howe, Mr. Harold Matthies, and Mr. Murray Totland,

I saw that the programmable signs for the #6 Broadway bus and a Special bus of Saskatoon Transit had a “merry Christmas” message.  The signs alternated between displaying the bus number/route name and “merry Christmas.”  I was extremely surprised, offended, and angered that a municipal government organization like Saskatoon Transit would display a message pertaining to a religious holiday on its main bus sign.  This violates the separation of religion and state, imposes religious beliefs on people who don't share them, and gives preferential treatment to one religion over all other religions in violation of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 

I talked to a bus driver about this.  He said that Saskatoon Transit management programmed the bus signs to give drivers the option of having a “merry Christmas” message.  He said the bus signs are not programmed to display a message for a holiday for any other religion.  If they did, I'm sure there would be a public backlash from conservative Christians. 

Author David Barrett has documented 10,000 different religions, 150 of which have one million or more followers:  http://www.adherents.com/misc/WCE.html  Therefore, it would be impossible to have messages for holidays in all other religions. 

It is extremely inappropriate and extremely discriminatory to have a Christmas message displayed by Saskatoon Transit, which is owned by the City of Saskatoon and funded by taxpayers.  You're free to put “merry Christmas” bumper stickers on your personal vehicles, but you're not free to put “merry Christmas” signs on Saskatoon Transit buses or other City of Saskatoon vehicles.  If the “merry Christmas” message were from a private advertiser on one of the internal bus signs, this would be more acceptable, but it is not acceptable for Saskatoon Transit to display this message on its own.  If the “merry Christmas” message were by a private organization or individual, this would be more acceptable, but it is not acceptable for a government organization like Saskatoon Transit to display this message on its own.

This is not a Christian city or a Christian country.  This is a secular multireligious city in a secular multireligious country with people from numerous religions as well as spiritual people, agnostics, and atheists. 

Christmas messages on Saskatoon Transit buses make religious minorities, atheists, and agnostics who do not celebrate Christmas feel excluded and like second class citizens.  Many new immigrants use these buses and a large percentage of them are not Christian and do not celebrate Christmas.  Christmas messages on Saskatoon Transit buses make them feel like they need to convert to Christianity to be first class citizens.  Therefore, the Christmas messages on Saskatoon Transit buses are a forcible attempt at Christian indoctrination.

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

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion and creed.  It's my position that freedom of conscience in section 4 of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code includes freedom from religion.  It's my position that a Christmas message on Saskatoon Transit buses violates section 4 of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code and discriminates against people on the prohibited grounds of religion and creed.

It's 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's my position that a Christmas message on Saskatoon Transit buses violates these sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

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.  Secularism protects religion from the state and the state from religion.  Separation of religion and state is a fundamental aspect of freedom of religion. 

In a free society, the majority cannot discriminate against the minority.  We need to protect the rights of the minority from the misdirected will of the majority.

When Saskatoon Transit displays a Christmas message on buses, it sends the message that there is a priority given to Christian values, it sends the message that Christians are more valued or welcome than others while marginalizing others, it sends the message that a citizen is second class if she’s not a Christian, and it makes Saskatoon look like an archaic city of religious intolerance.  This is absolutely disgraceful.

I didn't serve in the Cdn. Army Reserve to defend religious discrimination and bigotry.  It's hypocritical for the Canadian Armed Forces to fight for separation of religion and state in Kabul when this doesn't fully exist in Saskatoon.

I previously filed a civil rights complaint against Mayor Don Atchison, Councillor Randy Donauer, and the City of Saskatoon for a Christian prayer recitation at a Volunteer Appreciation Banquet organized by the Mayor's Office.  This complaint is currently being processed by the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.  See http://atchison-discrimination.blogspot.ca for details.  I’m seeking a judgment that has the effect of banning prayer recitations at civic events throughout the province of Saskatchewan and that has persuasive value in other provinces too. 

Before filing a claim in Saskatchewan Provincial Court, a plaintiff is required to give the defendant a demand letter with her legal demands, a date by which those demands must be met, and a statement that a claim will be filed against the defendant if the demands are not met by that date.  Typically 10-14 days are given to meet the legal demands.  I am following a similar procedure here by sending you this email, despite not being required to do so for a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. 

I'm giving Saskatoon Transit 10 days until December 22, 2012 to agree to not display a Christmas message or religious message again unless it is from a private advertiser and to make an apology to anyone who was offended including me.  If these demands are not met, I will file a civil rights complaint against Saskatoon Transit, its management, and individual bus drivers displaying this message with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.  If this case goes to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, I will seek a judgment that has the effect of banning religious messages by government organizations throughout the province of Saskatchewan and that has persuasive value in other provinces too.

If Saskatoon Transit were not owned by the government, I wouldn’t make this complaint.  I am not seeking any money.  I just want this discriminatory practice stopped and I want an apology for this discriminatory practice to everyone who was offended.

There might be a backlash against me from conservative Christians and pushover progressives if I'm forced to make a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, as there was with my previous civil rights complaint, but I'm willing to deal with that because the advancement of liberty is more important than the advancement of my popularity.  The backlash from conservative Christians and pushover progressives just shows how much religious bigotry and social apathy there is and motivated me to make this complaint.

Furthermore, City of Saskatoon employees should be ordered to not say “merry Christmas” to members of the public while performing their jobs.  This year, I have already heard two City of Saskatoon employees wish a “merry Christmas” to members of the public who aren’t Christian while performing their jobs.  This was extremely inappropriate and offensive.

A Christmas message on a city bus is analogous to going to a restaurant where there is only one menu option and the restaurateur force feeds you with that single menu 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 are fighting for some people.  I’m fighting for all people.

Although I'm a representative on the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee, I'm not speaking on behalf of the committee because its mandate is restricted to education and awareness, not human rights advocacy.  I’m speaking independently in this email as a civil libertarian because I strongly believe that it’s always better to vigorously stand up for what’s right than passively sit down for what’s wrong.

I am blind copying this email message to the media.  I will also post this message on the Internet at http://atchison-discrimination.blogspot.ca. 

Best regards,

Ashu M. G. Solo

From: Totland, Murray (City Manager's Office)
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 5:20 PM
To: 'amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us'
Cc: Jorgenson, Jeff (Utility Services); Warwick, Patti (Solicitors); Howe, Bob (US - Transit); Matthies, Harold (US - Transit)
Subject: RE: More Religious Discrimination by City of Saskatoon and Another Potential Civil Rights Complaint against City of Saskatoon

Good afternoon Mr. Solo.  Your correspondence has been forwarded to the City Solicitor’s Office for appropriate action.

Regards,

Murray Totland

City Manager

More Religious Discrimination by City of Saskatoon and Another Potential Civil Rights Complaint against City of Saskatoon

Below is an email sent to Murray Totland, Saskatoon city manager, Bob Howe, Saskatoon Transit manager, and Harold Matthies, Saskatoon Transit operations manager, about another potential civil rights complaint against the City of Saskatoon.

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 12:11 PM
To: Bob Howe; Harold Matthies; Murray Totland
Subject: More Religious Discrimination by City of Saskatoon and Another Potential Civil Rights Complaint against City of Saskatoon

Dear Mr. Bob Howe, Mr. Harold Matthies, and Mr. Murray Totland,

I saw that the programmable signs for the #6 Broadway bus and a Special bus of Saskatoon Transit had a “merry Christmas” message.  The signs alternated between displaying the bus number/route name and “merry Christmas.”  I was extremely surprised, offended, and angered that a municipal government organization like Saskatoon Transit would display a message pertaining to a religious holiday on its main bus sign.  This violates the separation of religion and state, imposes religious beliefs on people who don't share them, and gives preferential treatment to one religion over all other religions in violation of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 

I talked to a bus driver about this.  He said that Saskatoon Transit management programmed the bus signs to give drivers the option of having a “merry Christmas” message.  He said the bus signs are not programmed to display a message for a holiday for any other religion.  If they did, I'm sure there would be a public backlash from conservative Christians. 

Author David Barrett has documented 10,000 different religions, 150 of which have one million or more followers:  http://www.adherents.com/misc/WCE.html  Therefore, it would be impossible to have messages for holidays in all other religions. 

It is extremely inappropriate and extremely discriminatory to have a Christmas message displayed by Saskatoon Transit, which is owned by the City of Saskatoon and funded by taxpayers.  You're free to put “merry Christmas” bumper stickers on your personal vehicles, but you're not free to put “merry Christmas” signs on Saskatoon Transit buses or other City of Saskatoon vehicles.  If the “merry Christmas” message were from a private advertiser on one of the internal bus signs, this would be more acceptable, but it is not acceptable for Saskatoon Transit to display this message on its own.  If the “merry Christmas” message were by a private organization or individual, this would be more acceptable, but it is not acceptable for a government organization like Saskatoon Transit to display this message on its own.

This is not a Christian city or a Christian country.  This is a secular multireligious city in a secular multireligious country with people from numerous religions as well as spiritual people, agnostics, and atheists. 

Christmas messages on Saskatoon Transit buses make religious minorities, atheists, and agnostics who do not celebrate Christmas feel excluded and like second class citizens.  Many new immigrants use these buses and a large percentage of them are not Christian and do not celebrate Christmas.  Christmas messages on Saskatoon Transit buses make them feel like they need to convert to Christianity to be first class citizens.  Therefore, the Christmas messages on Saskatoon Transit buses are a forcible attempt at Christian indoctrination.

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

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion and creed.  It's my position that freedom of conscience in section 4 of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code includes freedom from religion.  It's my position that a Christmas message on Saskatoon Transit buses violates section 4 of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code and discriminates against people on the prohibited grounds of religion and creed.

It's 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's my position that a Christmas message on Saskatoon Transit buses violates these sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

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.  Secularism protects religion from the state and the state from religion.  Separation of religion and state is a fundamental aspect of freedom of religion. 

In a free society, the majority cannot discriminate against the minority.  We need to protect the rights of minority from the misdirected will of the majority.

When Saskatoon Transit displays a Christmas message on buses, it sends the message that there is a priority given to Christian values, it sends the message that Christians are more valued or welcome than others while marginalizing others, it sends the message that a citizen is second class if she’s not a Christian, and it makes Saskatoon look like an archaic city of religious intolerance.  This is absolutely disgraceful.

I didn't serve in the Cdn. Army Reserve to defend religious discrimination and bigotry.  It's hypocritical for the Canadian Armed Forces to fight for separation of religion and state in Kabul when this doesn't fully exist in Saskatoon.

I previously filed a civil rights complaint against Mayor Don Atchison, Councillor Randy Donauer, and the City of Saskatoon for a Christian prayer recitation at a Volunteer Appreciation Banquet organized by the Mayor's Office.  This complaint is currently being processed by the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.  See http://atchison-discrimination.blogspot.ca for details.  I’m seeking a judgment that has the effect of banning prayer recitations at civic events throughout the province of Saskatchewan and that has persuasive value in other provinces too. 

Before filing a claim in Saskatchewan Provincial Court, a plaintiff is required to give the defendant a demand letter with her legal demands, a date by which those demands must be met, and a statement that a claim will be filed against the defendant if the demands are not met by that date.  Typically 10-14 days are given to meet the legal demands.  I am following a similar procedure here by sending you this email, despite not being required to do so for a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. 

I'm giving Saskatoon Transit 10 days until December 22, 2012 to agree to not display a Christmas message or religious message again unless it is from a private advertiser and to make an apology to anyone who was offended including me.  If these demands are not met, I will file a civil rights complaint against Saskatoon Transit, its management, and individual bus drivers displaying this message with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.  If this case goes to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, I will seek a judgment that has the effect of banning religious messages by government organizations throughout the province of Saskatchewan and that has persuasive value in other provinces too.

If Saskatoon Transit were not owned by the government, I wouldn’t make this complaint.  I am not seeking any money.  I just want this discriminatory practice stopped and I want an apology for this discriminatory practice to everyone who was offended.

There might be a backlash against me from conservative Christians and pushover progressives if I'm forced to make a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, as there was with my previous civil rights complaint, but I'm willing to deal with that because the advancement of liberty is more important than the advancement of my popularity.  The backlash from conservative Christians and pushover progressives just shows how much religious bigotry and social apathy there is and motivated me to make this complaint.

Furthermore, City of Saskatoon employees should be ordered to not say “merry Christmas” to members of the public while performing their jobs.  This year, I have already heard two City of Saskatoon employees wish a “merry Christmas” to members of the public who aren’t Christian while performing their jobs.  This was extremely inappropriate and offensive.

A Christmas message on a city bus is analogous to going to a restaurant where there is only one menu option and the restaurateur force feeds you with that single menu 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 are fighting for some people.  I’m fighting for all people.

Although I'm a representative on the City of Saskatoon Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee, I'm not speaking on behalf of the committee because its mandate is restricted to education and awareness, not civil rights advocacy.  I’m speaking independently in this email as a civil libertarian because I strongly believe that it’s always better to vigorously stand up for what’s right than passively sit down for what’s wrong.

I am blind copying this email message to the media.  I will also post this message on the Internet at http://atchison-discrimination.blogspot.ca. 

Best regards,

Ashu M. G. Solo

Solo's Media Coverage on Saskatoon.ca Web Site Upgrade

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us] 

Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2012 5:35 AM
To: 'mayors.office@saskatoon.ca'; 'randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca'; 'eric.olauson@saskatoon.ca'; 'darren.hill@saskatoon.ca'; 'pat.lorje@saskatoon.ca'; 'charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca'; 'mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca'; 'troy.davies@saskatoon.ca'; 'zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca'; 'ann.iwanchuk@saskatoon.ca'; 'tiffany.paulsen@saskatoon.ca'
Cc: Totland, Murray (City Manager's Office); South, Jeanna (City Manager's Office)

Subject: Solo's Media Coverage on Saskatoon.ca Web Site Upgrade

Dear City Council,

This is my media coverage on the Saskatoon.ca Web site upgrade:

“Controverse à Saskatoon:  le nouveau site Internet de la Ville coûtera plus d'un million $,” CBC, Dec. 7, 2012,

URL:  http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/saskatchewan/2012/12/07/004-saskatoon-site-internet-budget.shtml

Note: This article can be translated to English with Google Translate. 

Ashu M. G. Solo interviewed by Guillaume Dumont for news on CBC Radio-Canada, Dec. 7, 2012.

Ashu M. G. Solo on “Ultimate Open Session, Part 2” on John Gormley Live with host John Gormley, News Talk 650 CKOM and News Talk 980 CJME, Dec. 7, 2012,

URL:  http://www.newstalk650.com/sites/default/files/JGL%20UOL2_6.mp3

Note:  Solo is on between 32 min. 16 sec. and 34 min. 24 sec.

If uninformed computer laypersons in other cities were fooled into spending much more than they should have for a Web site upgrade, this doesn’t mean that uninformed computer laypersons in Saskatoon should be fooled into spending much more than they should for a Web site upgrade.  The City of Saskatoon should hire two of its own Web developers/designers to upgrade and maintain the Web site instead of using outside consultants for almost $200/hour.  I know about this because I’m a part-time Web developer and have set up Web development contracts for businesses.

I previously sent you lists of the extensive media coverage of my Code of Conduct complaint against Don Atchison for online campaign advertising as well as my civil rights complaint against Don Atchison, Randy Donauer, and the City of Saskatoon for a prayer recitation at a civic event.

I wasn’t trying to get media coverage for myself on this issue.  I was just trying to get the media to cover this issue, so that you’re held accountable for this potential extreme waste of taxpayer money, but I’m happy to give my comments to the media.  This message is blind copied to the media and will be posted for the public at http://atchison-discrimination.blogspot.ca.

Sincerely,

Ashu M. G. Solo

Updated Partial List of Media Coverage on Code of Conduct Complaint against Don Atchison

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 6:27 AM
To: 'mayors.office@saskatoon.ca'; 'randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca'
Cc: 'eric.olauson@saskatoon.ca'; 'darren.hill@saskatoon.ca'; 'charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca'; 'troy.davies@saskatoon.ca'; 'zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca'; 'pat.lorje@saskatoon.ca'; 'ann.iwanchuk@saskatoon.ca'; 'mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca'; 'tiffany.paulsen@saskatoon.ca'
Subject: Updated Partial List of Media Coverage on Code of Conduct Complaint against Don Atchison

Don Atchison,

I previously sent you a partial list of media coverage about my civil rights complaint against you, Randy Donauer, and the City of Saskatoon.  Below is a partial list of media coverage on only my Code of Conduct complaint against you.

News Articles about Ashu M. G. Solo’s Code of Conduct Complaint against Don Atchison for Campaign Advertising

Charles Hamilton and David Hutton, “Complaint filed over Atchison's use of 'mayor,'” The StarPhoenix, Oct. 3, 2012,

URL:  http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Complaint+filed+over+Atchison+mayor/7335391/story.html

David Hutton, “Ashu Solo behind code of conduct complaint,” The StarPhoenix, Oct. 3, 2012,

URL:  http://blogs.thestarphoenix.com/2012/10/03/ashu-solo-behind-code-of-conduct-complaint/

François Biber, “Voter complaints not being heard until after Oct. 24 election:  Post-election sanctions keep candidates honest,” News Talk 650 CKOM and News Talk 980 CJME, Oct. 3, 2012,

URL:  http://www.newstalk650.com/story/voter-complaints-not-being-heard-until-after-oct-24-election/78043

URL:  http://www.ckom.com/story/voter-complaints-not-being-heard-until-after-oct-24-election/78043

URL:  http://www.newstalk980.com/story/voter-complaints-not-being-heard-until-after-oct-24-election/78043

URL:  http://www.cjme.com/story/voter-complaints-not-being-heard-until-after-oct-24-election/78043

URL:  http://www.greenzonefootball.com/story/voter-complaints-not-being-heard-until-after-oct-24-election/78043

“Saskatoon:  un candidat à la mairie aurait enfreint un règlement,” CBC Radio-Canada.ca, Oct. 3, 2012,

URL:  http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/saskatchewan/2012/10/03/005-accusation-atchison-maire-sask.shtml

Jared Linnen, “A Formal Complaint Lodged Against Atchison Campaign Methods,” Saskatoonhomepage.ca, Oct. 4, 2012,

URL:  http://www.saskatoonhomepage.ca/election-2012/a-formal-complaint-lodged-against-atchison-campaign-methods/itemid_150

Charles Hamilton, “Atchison won’t be sanctioned for code violations,” The StarPhoenix, Nov. 7, 2012,

URL:  http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Council+debates+impartial+body+rules/7515856/story.html

“Saskatoon:  la plainte contre Don Atchison est rejetée,” CBC Radio-Canada.ca, Nov. 7, 2012,

URL:  http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/saskatchewan/2012/11/07/003-rejet-plainte-soho-atchison-saskatoon.shtml

Charles Hamilton, “Council debates impartial body for rules,” The StarPhoenix, Nov. 8, 2012,

URL:  http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Council+debates+impartial+body+rules/7515856/story.html

Note:  This is about my Code of Conduct complaint and I suggested to City Council the idea of an independent committee for adjudicating Code of Conduct complaints.

Reprints of News Articles about Ashu M. G. Solo’s Code of Conduct Complaint against Don Atchison for Campaign Advertising

I list the same articles in different newspapers to show the extent of coverage on my Code of Conduct complaint against Atchison.

Charles Hamilton and David Hutton, “Complaint filed over Atchison's use of 'mayor,'” Canada.com, Oct. 3, 2012,

URL:  http://www2.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/local/story.html?id=b3f9330e-8adb-4bca-a780-f801cd8b70ad

Charles Hamilton and David Hutton, “Complaint filed over Atchison's use of 'mayor,'” Leader-Post, Oct. 3, 2012,

URL:  http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Complaint+filed+over+Atchisons+mayor/7334886/story.html

Charles Hamilton and David Hutton, “Complaint filed over Atchison's use of 'mayor,'” Calgary Herald, Oct. 3, 2012,

URL:  http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Complaint+filed+over+Atchison+mayor/7335391/story.html

Charles Hamilton, “Council should not police itself: councillors,” The Province, Nov. 7, 2012,

http://www.theprovince.com/business/Council+should+police+itself+councillors/7514197/story.html

Charles Hamilton, “Council debates impartial body for rules,” Canada.com, Nov. 8, 2012,

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/story.html?id=95dc696f-bf2e-4fe2-8866-13c4121d07e7

Radio News Interviews of Ashu M. G. Solo about Code of Conduct Complaint against Don Atchison for Campaign Advertising

Ashu M. G. Solo interviewed by François Biber for news on News Talk 650 CKOM, Oct. 3, 2012

Ashu M. G. Solo interviewed by Guillaume Dumont for news on CBC Radio, Oct. 3, 2012

Ashu M. G. Solo interviewed by Jared Linnen for news on CJWW Radio, Oct. 3, 2012

Radio Segments Partially about or with Mentions of Ashu M. G. Solo’s Code of Conduct Complaint against Don Atchison for Campaign Advertising

“Bugsday!  The Hour of Rage!” on John Gormley Live with host John Gormley, News Talk 650 CKOM and News Talk 980 CJME, Oct. 4, 2012,

URL:  http://ckom.com/sites/default/files/JGL%20BD_0.mp3

Ashu M. G. Solo on “Ultimate Open Lines” on John Gormley Live with host John Gormley, News Talk 650 CKOM and News Talk 980 CJME, Oct. 5, 2012,

URL:  http://www.newstalk650.com/sites/default/files/JGL%20UOL1_1.mp3

Ashu M. G. Solo on “Ultimate Open Lines part 2” on John Gormley Live with host John Gormley, News Talk 650 CKOM and News Talk 980 CJME, Oct. 19, 2012,

URL:  http://www.newstalk650.com/sites/default/files/JGL%20UOL2_2.mp3

Ashu M. G. Solo on “Bugsday!  The Hour of Rage!” on John Gormley Live with host John Gormley, News Talk 650 CKOM and News Talk 980 CJME, Nov. 8, 2012,

URL:  http://www.newstalk650.com/sites/default/files/JGL%20BD_9.mp3

Blog on Ashu M. G. Solo’s Code of Conduct Complaint against Don Atchison for Campaign Advertising and Civil Rights Complaint against Don Atchison, Randy Donauer, and City of Saskatoon for Prayer Recitation

URL:  http://atchison-discrimination.blogspot.ca

Sincerely,

Ashu M. G. Solo

MEDIA ALERT: Saskatoon City Council Took No Action on Solo's Code of Conduct Complaint against Mayor Don Atchison

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us] 

Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2012 12:34 AM
To: amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us
Cc: 'mayors.office@saskatoon.ca'; 'randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca'; 'eric.olauson@saskatoon.ca'; 'darren.hill@saskatoon.ca'; 'pat.lorje@saskatoon.ca'; 'ann.iwanchuk@saskatoon.ca'; 'troy.davies@saskatoon.ca'; 'charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca'; 'mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca'; 'tiffany.paulsen@saskatoon.ca'; zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca
Subject: MEDIA ALERT: Saskatoon City Council Took No Action on Solo's Code of Conduct Complaint against Mayor Don Atchison

Dear Media:

See the attached letter I received from the new Saskatoon city clerk, Joanne Sproule, on the outcome of my Code of Conduct complaint against Mayor Don Atchison for his online campaign advertising.  The city clerk forwarded a report on my Code of Conduct complaint against Atchison to the Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee is what they call City Council members meeting in private.  At a meeting yesterday, the Executive Committee/City Council decided to take no action on my complaints. 

The lack of action was a cowardly action.  By imposing no sanction against Atchison, City Council has opened the door to council members violating the Code of Conduct without punishment.  I think City Council decided to protect one of its own members from punishment.  An independent individual or independent committee should be assessing potential violations of the Code of Conduct.

Although I don’t agree with the rule banning council members from using their titles in campaign advertising, the rules must be enforced for those council members who violate them.  The people who make the rules must follow the rules.

How can Atchison have the moral authority, honor, or integrity to make laws as the mayor if he can’t follow the intent of rules and laws in the Saskatoon City Council Code of Conduct, Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?  How can Atchison have the moral authority, honor, or integrity to serve on the Board of Police Commissioners for the Saskatoon Police Service, which enforces criminal and traffic law, if he can’t follow the intent of other rules and laws in the Saskatoon City Council Code of Conduct, Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?  Atchison doesn’t have the moral authority, honor, or integrity to be on City Council or to be on the Board of Police Commissioners.  I believe that the Executive Committee should have removed  Atchison from the Board of Police Commissioners.  This sanction is allowed under the City Council Code of Conduct (http://www.saskatoon.ca/CITY%20COUNCIL/Pages/CodeofConduct.aspx).

Details of my Code of Conduct complaint against Atchison follow in the emails below.  I am attaching a letter from the Saskatoon city clerk on the outcome of my Code of Conduct complaint.  

Best regards,

Ashu M. G. Solo

From: Sproule, Joanne (Clerks) [mailto:Joanne.Sproule@Saskatoon.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2012 4:30 PM
To: 'amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us'
Subject: RE: Expansion of Formal Complaint against Candidate Don Atchison

Good afternoon Mr. Solo,

With regard to your enquiry below, a response is attached.

Best regards,

Joanne Sproule

City Clerk

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2012 4:49 AM
To: Mann, Janice (Clerks); Sproule, Joanne (Clerks)
Subject: RE: Expansion of Formal Complaint against Candidate Don Atchison

Dear Janice Mann and Joanne Sproule,

I heard that the Executive Committee didn’t look at my Code of Conduct complaint against Mayor Don Atchison yesterday.  I received some media inquiries about this yesterday.  The media was wondering and I was wondering when the Executive Committee will look at my complaint.

Best regards,

Ashu M. G. Solo

From: Mann, Janice (Clerks) [mailto:Janice.Mann@Saskatoon.ca]
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 8:18 AM
To: 'amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us'
Subject: RE: Expansion of Formal Complaint against Candidate Don Atchison

Dear Mr. Solo

Thank you for your email.  Your expanded complaint will be placed before the Executive Committee at its November 5^th meeting.

I also want to advise you that for complaints regarding the Code of Conduct the identity of the complainant(s) will be made known to the Executive Committee and to the candidate against whom the complaint is made.   I assume that since you have copied all of Council already you will still wish to proceed with your complaint; however if that is not the case please let me know.

Yours sincerely,

Janice Mann

City Clerk

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: October 17, 2012 7:54 AM
To: Mann, Janice (Clerks)
Cc: Web E-mail - Mayor's Office; Donauer, Randy (City Councillor); Penner, Glen (City Councillor); Lorje, Pat (City Councillor); Iwanchuk, Ann (City Councillor); Clark, Charlie (City Councillor); Loewen, Mairin (City Councillor); Paulsen, Tiffany (City Councillor); Dubois, Bev (City Councillor); Hill, Darren (City Councillor)
Subject: Expansion of Formal Complaint against Candidate Don Atchison

Dear Janice Mann:

I would like to expand the scope of my formal complaint against candidate Don Atchison to also include potential violations of the Saskatoon City Council Code of Conduct on his campaign Web site and campaign Twitter account. 

Candidate Tom Wolf brought these potential Code of Conduct violations to light.  Candidate Atchison should have made sure that there were no other potential violations of the City Council Code of Conduct after candidate Wolf brought these potential Code of Conduct violations to light.  However, candidate Atchison didn’t do this because I found potential violations of the Code of Conduct on his Facebook account.

I would now like my formal complaint to cover all of the following campaign advertising actions that potentially violated the City Council Code of Conduct:

1. References to candidate Atchison as “Mayor Atchison,” “Mayor Atch,” and “Mayor of Saskatoon” on his campaign Facebook account.

2. Reference to candidate Atchison as “Mayor of Saskatoon” on his campaign Twitter account.

3. References to candidate Atchison as “Mayor Don Atchison,” “Mayor Atchison,” and “Mayor of Saskatoon” on his campaign Web site.

I don’t have screen captures of candidate Atchison’s campaign Web site or campaign Twitter account.  However, the potential violations on his campaign Web site or campaign Twitter account were reported in the StarPhoenix article entitled “Wolf questions Atchison’s Use of Mayor’s Office” by David Hutton at http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Wolf+questions+Atchison+mayor+office/7312029/story.html.

After my complaint, candidate Atchison removed a bunch of videos from his campaign Web site.  This was reported in the StarPhoenix article entitled “Complaint filed over Atchison’s use of ‘mayor’” by Charles Hamilton and David Hutton at http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Complaint+filed+over+Atchison+mayor/7335391/story.html.  The videos are now back on candidate Atchison’s campaign Web site.  I think the only likely reason that these videos would be temporarily removed after my complaint is if they contained references to candidate Atchison as “Mayor Atchison.”  I believe the Executive Committee of City Council should appoint an independent investigator to determine if this was the case.  If these videos violated the City Council Code of Conduct, I would like to add this to my formal complaint.

Furthermore, it has been brought to my attention by a citizen of Saskatoon that there was a Mayor’s Cultural Gala insert in an issue of the StarPhoenix in the first week of October 2012 ,and that this insert contained numerous references to candidate Atchison as “Mayor Atchison.”  I don’t have a copy of this insert, I haven’t seen it, and I don’t know if it constitutes campaign advertising.  I think if there is an independent investigator, she should also look into this.  If this Mayor’s Cultural Gala insert  violated the City Council Code of Conduct, I would like to add this to my formal complaint.

I don’t agree with banning references to council members as “Mayor X” or “Councillor Y” in campaign advertising.  I don’t think this is important to ban and I think this should be changed by City Council.  However, because this is prohibited by the City Council Code of Conduct approved by City Council, the rules must be followed by all council members.  Because of potential violations of the City Council Code of Conduct, I believe that candidate Atchison has unethically gained an advantage over the other candidates for the extremely important office of mayor. 

I’m copying this email message to City Council and blind copying it to various media outlets, so they can be aware of the expansion of this important formal complaint against candidate Atchison. 

I’m making this complaint because in a democracy, the government doesn’t just hold citizens accountable, but citizens hold government accountable.  Not only is the business of government the business of people, but the business of people is the business of government.

Best regards,

Ashu M. G. Solo

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2012 2:39 AM
To: ‘City Clerk’s Office’
Subject: Potential Violations of the City Council Code of Conduct by Don Atchison

Dear City Clerk’s Office:

I read the StarPhoenix article “Wolf questions Atchison’s Use of Mayor’s Office” by David Hutton at http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Wolf+questions+Atchison+mayor+office/7312029/story.html.   I understand that Tom Wolf’s campaign team says repeated use of the title “mayor” by Don Atchison in online campaign advertising violates the City Council Code of Conduct (http://www.saskatoon.ca/CITY%20COUNCIL/Pages/CodeofConduct.aspx#elections).  I further understand that after the City Clerk’s Office contacted Atchison’s campaign headquarters about references to him as “Mayor Don Atchison” and “Mayor Atchison” on his campaign Web site and a reference to him as “Mayor of Saskatoon” on his Twitter account, they removed these references.

I just took a look at Atchison’s official campaign account on the social network Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/DonAtchisonSaskatoon/info).  On the “About” page of this Facebook account, there are five references to Atchison as “Mayor Atchison” and a reference to him as “Mayor Atch” in his biography and awards.  There are also five references to Atchison as “Mayor of Saskatoon” on the “About” page of his Facebook account.  The text for his biography and awards on this Facebook page follows below.  I am also attaching a screen capture of this Facebook page.

From Don Atchison’s Facebook page:

Biography

Don Atchison was first elected to Saskatoon city council in 1994 and served as councillor up to his election as mayor in 2003. He was re-elected mayor in 2006 and again in 2009. Throughout his years in public office, he has never wavered from his commitment to the inclusion of all Saskatoon citizens and neighbourhoods. He strives to see all sides of the issues and to work in partnership to create 

the greatest benefit for all citizens of Saskatoon.

Mayor Atchison inspires confidence in our collective ability to achieve bold visions. After decades of indecision, River Landing is now evolving before our eyes, and the South Bridge – first discussed almost a century ago – will soon be spanning the South Saskatchewan.

But “thinking big” isn’t just about big structures; Mayor Atchison has been equally as adamant about finding innovative ways to fund affordable housing, rejuvenate neighbourhoods, reduce crime and involve people from all walks of life in the decisions about our future, such as through the “Saskatoon Speaks”. His vision and pursuit of excellence for Saskatoon is as wide as it is deep.

“Atch” learned the value of teamwork early in his life. Growing up in Saskatoon, he was involved in a variety of activities. He especially loved sports, where his talent as a hockey goaltender led to playing in the professional leagues. After hockey, he returned to Saskatoon and his family’s retail business. He and his wife Mardele have remained committed Saskatoon, where they have raised their five children.

In recognition of his work, Mayor Atchison has received a number of honours, including being named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International; the Medal of Merit by the International Association of Lions Clubs; and the Saskatchewan Centennial Award.

What is his greatest honour? Ask Mayor Atch and he will quickly reply, “Serving the greatest city in Canada.”

Awards

In recognition of his work, Mayor Atchison has received a number of honours, including being named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International; the Medal of Merit by the International Association of Lions Clubs; the Consumer Choice Man of the Year Award; and the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance President's Award for Public Sector Supporter.

I don’t agree with banning references to council members as “Mayor X” or “Councillor Y” in campaign advertising.  However, because this is prohibited by the City Council Code of Conduct approved by City Council, the rules should be followed by all council members.

Atchison’s Facebook account was created on September 5, 2012 obviously for his reelection campaign.  I assume he has been violating the City Council Code of Conduct since then.

I strongly believe that Don Atchison should be sanctioned in accordance with the City Council Code of Conduct.

I am blind copying this email to Tom Wolf, various media outlets, and Don Atchison, so they can also be aware of these potentially serious violations of the City Council Code of Conduct by Don Atchison.

I look forward to your response.

Best regards,

Ashu M. G. Solo

Sanctions for Potential Code of Conduct Violation by Don Atchison

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2012 2:52 AM
To: 'mayors.office@saskatoon.ca'; randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca; eric.olauson@saskatoon.ca; darren.hill@saskatoon.ca; charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca; pat.lorje@saskatoon.ca; ann.iwanchuk@saskatoon.ca; troy.davies@saskatoon.ca; 'mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca'; tiffany.paulsen@saskatoon.ca; zach.jeffries@saskatoon.ca
Subject: Sanctions for Potential Code of Conduct Violation by Don Atchison

Dear City Council/Executive Committee:

As most of you know, I made a Code of Conduct complaint against Don Atchison for using his title in his online campaign advertising.  Those of you who are new to City Council should get acquainted with my complaints at http://atchison-discrimination.blogspot.ca.  I understand that the Executive Committee is going to be discussing my Code of Conduct complaint on November 5, 2012.  Although I don’t agree with the rule prohibiting the use of titles by council members in campaign advertising, the rules must be followed by those who made them.  City Council should scrap this rule in the future.

I believe that the Executive Committee should remove Atchison from the Board of Police Commissioners as a penalty if the Executive Committee finds that he violated the Code of Conduct.  I don't believe that Atchison has the moral authority, honor, or integrity to act as mayor or to be on the Board of Police Commissioners.  If he can't follow the Saskatoon City Council Code of Conduct, Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, or Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, then how can he act as mayor or be on the Board of Police Commissioners?  Ignorance of the law is no excuse for citizens.  Ignorance of the law and ignorance of the rules are no excuse for politicians too. 

How can Don Atchison have the moral authority, honor, or integrity to serve on the board of an organization that enforces the law if he can’t follow the law and the rules?  That is, how can Atchison have the moral authority, honor, or integrity to serve on the Board of Police Commissioners for the Saskatoon Police Service, which enforces criminal and traffic law, if he can’t follow the intent of other rules and laws in the Saskatoon City Council Code of Conduct, Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?  I believe that Atchison doesn’t have the moral authority, honor, or integrity to be on the Board of Police Commissioners, and I believe that the Executive Committee should remove Atchison from the Board of Police Commissioners if the Executive Committee finds that Atchison violated the City Council Code of Conduct.

Mayors shouldn’t be on the Board of Police Commissioners anyway.  Mayor Jim Maddin was right.  Politicians cause the board to make decisions based on political considerations, such as passions of the moment and ignorant public opinion, instead of based on a rigorous analysis of what can be done for the greatest public interest. 

I also believe that the Executive Committee should cut Atchison’s salary in half because he unethically gained an advantage over the other candidates by using his title in his campaign advertising.  Such a penalty would strongly discourage council members in the future from violating the rules set by City Council. 

The sanctions suggested above are allowed under the City Council Code of Conduct (http://www.saskatoon.ca/CITY%20COUNCIL/Pages/CodeofConduct.aspx).  I am blind copying this email message to various media outlets.

Sincerely,

Ashu M. G. Solo