A complaint against the City of Saskatoon and councillor Randy Donauer over a public prayer at a civic event has been tossed out by the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.

Chief Commissioner David Arnot released the dismissal Thursday, ultimately siding against complainant Ashu Solo but not without criticizing the city’s decision to recite a Christian prayer at an April 2012 volunteer appreciation banquet.

“The recitation of a Christian prayer at this event represents poor judgement. It was disrespectful and insensitive to a multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-theist audience,” Arnot’s 13-page ruling read.

“The volunteers attending the dinner, like the citizens of Saskatoon, have varied religious, spiritual and cultural traditions. The decision to incorporate a Christian prayer ignored this reality.”

Solo formally filed the complaint in March 2013. He alleged the prayer recited by Donauer at the city-hosted event discriminated against him and other non-Christians.

Arnot stated he does not believe the prayer caused Solo enough harm to breach the human rights code. He also said the complaint would likely not be substantiated in court.

Still, he described the complaint as justified.

“Mr. Solo had legitimate grounds to file a complaint. His insistence on the neutrality of the state in religious matters is consistent with the view of the Supreme Court of Canada,” he wrote.

The city’s decision to stop reciting prayers at future volunteer appreciation banquets factored in to Arnot’s decision.

Solo described the ruling as bittersweet.

“I’m disappointed they dismissed the case but I’m happy they have essentially recognized that having a prayer recitation at a city event is inappropriate,” he said.

Donauer was pleased with the dismissal.

“People express their views, their opinions and their faiths quite openly. Sometimes they’re similar to mine. Sometimes they’re not, but I always sit respectfully and respect the fact that people are allowed to express their views and their beliefs in Canada,” he said.

“That’s what we’re all about, and I don’t think the government should ever put themselves in the position where they are telling citizens what they can or can’t say.”

Arnot said his statements critiquing the banquet prayer don’t necessarily rule out prayer or spiritual ceremonies at municipal activities.

“The context of an event is important,” he wrote. “State promotion of multiculturalism does not violate the code.”

--- with files from CTV Saskatoon's Matt Young