March 7, 2026
Subject: Traffic Enforcement Cameras, Speeding, Impaired Driving, Police Criminality, Plant Conservatory, and Saskatoon Transit
Saskatoon City Council:
Elimination of Traffic Enforcement Cameras
The City of Saskatoon should eliminate traffic enforcement cameras because the tickets go to vehicle owners rather than vehicle drivers, because people get the tickets weeks after the alleged offences, and because people don’t even remember who was driving and what the circumstances surrounding the alleged offences were when they get the tickets weeks after the alleged offences.
Someone shouldn’t receive a large fine for a traffic offence committed by someone else driving his vehicle. The driver should be fined. That can’t be done with tickets resulting from traffic enforcement cameras. That can’t be done unless a police officer stops the driver. It’s immoral to fine a vehicle owner for a traffic offence committed by a different vehicle driver.
When someone gets a ticket from a police officer immediately after the alleged offence, there are no problems with remembering who was driving and what the circumstances of the alleged offence were.
People know they need to remember or write down what happened if they want to defend themselves in court.
I’m not a lawyer, but I’ve seen while representing people and watching cases for tickets resulting from traffic enforcement cameras in traffic court that people don’t remember who was driving and the circumstances of alleged offences. Each of you should go to traffic court during trials for tickets resulting from traffic enforcement cameras and see this for yourself.
See this letter to the editor that I wrote for further information on why traffic enforcement cameras should be eliminated:
Ashu M. G. Solo, “Eliminate traffic enforcement cameras,” Regina Leader-Post, Oct. 6, 2018, URL:
Traffic enforcement cameras should not be used as a means of revenue generation for wasteful spending by City Council and the Board of Trustees for the Saskatoon Public Library. It would be politically popular to eliminate traffic enforcement cameras.
Reduction of Speeding
One of the causes of speeding is people not being aware of speed limits. The City of Saskatoon could reduce speeding and the amount of resources that the Saskatoon Police Service spends on issuing tickets if there are more signs indicating speed limits. The City of Saskatoon should have more signs indicating speed limits.
For example, on 22nd Street West between Diefenbaker Drive and Kensington Boulevard, people are making the mistake of thinking that the speed limit is 90 km/hr when it’s 60 km/hr. More speed limit signs on this stretch of road could reduce speeding. One sign isn’t enough because people often miss seeing signs.
Reduction of Impaired Driving
The Saskatoon Police Service spends a lot of resources on charging people for driving while intoxicated. The City of Saskatoon should stop allowing alcohol to be served at its facilities like the SaskTel Centre (formerly Saskatchewan Place) arena and its events like Taste of Saskatchewan. Does anyone believe that nobody drives home intoxicated from these facilities and events?
Many cases of driving while intoxicated could be prevented if the bars and nightclubs were forced to close before the buses stop running each night. The City of Saskatoon should force bars and nightclubs to close before the buses stop running each night. See this letter to the editor that I wrote for further information:
Ashu M. G. Solo, “Better transit for bar patrons,” Edmonton Journal, July 25, 2018, URL:
Apologies for Police Criminality
Like Stephen Harper issued an apology on behalf of the Government of Canada for residential schools, the mayor should issue an apology on behalf of the City of Saskatoon for past cases of corruption and brutality by the Saskatoon Police Service including the so-called starlight tours. When a person or organization does something wrong, an apology is expected. A civilized municipal government should apologize. See these articles on the so-called starlight tours:
“Saskatoon police chief admits starlight cruises are not new,” Windspeaker, June 1, 2003, URL:
“Saskatoon police chief says drop-offs happened ‘more than once’,” CBC News, June 9, 2003, URL:
The mayor should send a written apology on behalf of the City of Saskatoon to the victim of former police officer Clayton Lazar. This is the most clearcut case of police brutality. It’s irrelevant what Clayton Lazar’s victim was accused of doing that led to him being arrested. No police officer has the right to use unnecessary force on a suspect. It was especially cruel and cowardly for Clayton Lazar to repeatedly punch someone in handcuffs who couldn’t defend himself by covering his face or fight back. We can’t live in a city of barbarity and savagery. See these articles on Clayton Lazar:
“Saskatoon arrest leads to assault charge against police officer,” CBC News, Feb. 4, 2009, URL:
“Sask. police officer admits assaulting suspect: 'It was a problem with losing his cool': defence lawyer,” CBC News, Apr. 6, 2009, URL:
“Convicted of assault, Saskatoon officer quits: Officer repeatedly punched a handcuffed suspect,” CBC News, June 15, 2009, URL:
Restoring the Plant Conservatory
The plant conservatory that was in the Mendel Art Gallery should be restored and reopened to the public. I’ve seen people saying online that they would like it restored and reopened.
Wasting Money on Saskatoon Transit
It was an outrageous waste of taxpayer money for the City of Saskatoon to spend $317,757 on coming up with a new name for Saskatoon Transit:
Gage Haubrich, "Saskatoon spent more than $300,000 to name new bus system," Canadian Taxpayers Federation, URL:
It’s ridiculous to think that changing the name, Saskatoon Transit, to Link is going to increase the number of bus riders. It was pointless to blow so much money to come up with this name. The name Link isn’t descriptive enough. People won’t know what it means when they hear it. The term link is associated with a hyperlink on a webpage.
Sincerely,
Ashu M. G. Solo