A Winnipeg man is filing a human-rights complaint against the city for the opening prayers before its monthly meetings, arguing that he’s being discriminated against as an atheist.

Tony Governo told CTV Winnipeg on Wednesday that councillors open every meeting with a prayer and that the practice excludes him and others like him.

“It’s not my sentiment. I don’t believe in any deity, so what city council says in council should represent all of Winnipeg,” he said.

Governo said he has written to Mayor Brian Bowman, council speaker Devi Sharma and all of the other city councillors to request that they put an end to the practice.

He believes there is legal precedence for his case after a Supreme Court of Canada decision in 2015 ruled that the city of Saguenay, Quebec cannot hold prayers before municipal meetings. The top court declared that elected officials in Saguenay cannot open their meetings by reciting prayer because it infringed on an atheist’s freedom of conscience and religion.

“The state cannot compel me to act in a way that I don't want to act,” Governo explained.

City council officials said they sought legal advice and were advised they weren’t doing anything illegal because their prayers are nondenominational. During Winnipeg’s monthly meetings, city councillors take turns choosing and delivering their opening comments, which can be a prayer from any faith, philosophical readings or even singing and dancing. Bowman clarified that city council is doing what they can to ensure that city hall is inclusive for everyone.

“That also means being inclusive of those that choose to express themselves through a religious lens,” Bowman said.

Governo doesn’t believe the city’s nondenominational opening prayers go far enough in addressing his concerns. He said he is filing a complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission. The executive director of the commission, Isha Khan, said they will take a number of factors into consideration before they make a decision on Governo’s complaint.

“Does it just have a trivial effect on their life or on their being on that particular day or is it something more significant?” Khan said.

With a report from CTV Winnipeg’s Jeff Keele