Bus message up for debate
SASKATOON — Saskatoon’s buses will retain a “Merry Christmas” message while the City of Saskatoon reviews a complaint from a local activist that the signs are “inappropriate” and “discriminatory.”
But a number of city councillors said Friday the message should stay.
“I don’t think it’s going to be much of a debate and the ‘Merry Christmas’ signs are going to stay,” said Coun. Tiffany Paulsen.
“Based on my discussions with my colleagues, it’s fairly clear to me that nothing is going to change.”
The issue flared up after an email from city manager Murray Totland mentioned using a “more generic message” on Saskatoon Transit’s buses while a city lawyer reviews the complaint.
“That was likely a poor choice of words on my part,” Totland told reporters Friday. “No instructions or communications have been given to Transit to change that Merry Christmas sign. It is still on our buses.”
A complaint was filed Thursday by local activist Ashu Solo, which sparked a review by city staff.
“Christmas messages on Saskatoon Transit buses make religious minorities, atheists and agnostics who do not celebrate Christmas feel excluded and like second-class citizens,” Solo wrote in a complaint to senior city managers.
“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 firstclass citizens. Therefore, the Christmas messages on Saskatoon Transit buses are a forcible attempt at Christian indoctrination.”
Solo said he will file a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission if the messages aren’t removed in 10 days.
“Merry Christmas” is one of a number of messages programmed into the city’s digital sign software. “Happy holidays” is also a choice.
Totland said the intent is to discuss the issue at the next meeting of city council’s executive committee, which is Monday.
Issues with religious messaging have been brought up in the past and it isn’t uncommon for city hall to review its protocols when it receives a complaint of any type, Totland said. He said this is the first time, to his knowledge, that the city has received a complaint about displaying the greeting “Merry Christmas.”
Totland’s initial email to council and the mayor, which he said was taken out of context, suggested the city was going to pull the message.
“I have had a number of similar concerns expressed to me so after reviewing this internally, I am instructing Transit to use a more generic message for these boards as it is never our intent to offend anyone with our civic messages,” Totland said in the email. “We are also going to review our city protocols on this matter, and other instances where we hear concerns, as this issue continues to surface on many fronts and we need clarity around our corporate position on them.”
A number of councillors said Friday the “Merry Christmas” message should stay — at least until it is debated by council’s executive committee.
Coun. Troy Davies said he plans to support keeping the message on buses.
“If we want other religions that want to have their day put on the buses, I have no problem with that,” Davies said.
“It is unfortunate that we have had to spend so much time discussing whether or not there is a greeting on a rotating bus sign when there are more pressing issues affecting our city,” he said.
Other councillors voiced their opinions through social media. Coun. Darren Hill took to Facebook and Twitter with the message: “All I would like to say to that is MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!”
When news of the complaint broke on social media, it quickly flared up into verbal fisticuffs between those defending the message and those supporting the complaint.