Representatives from several advocacy groups rallied at Kelowna City Hall on July 22, calling on council to reconsider what they say are outdated and unfair tax exemptions for religious organizations.
The protest, organized by the Kelowna Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists Association (KASHA) along with Advocacy Canada and the BC Humanist Association, drew about two dozen people.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e asking Kelowna City Council to examine the property tax exemptions for the religious organizations,香蕉视频直播� said KASHA president Nina George. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e giving approval for five years. We香蕉视频直播檙e asking for a one-year approval to examine them so we can create a task force.香蕉视频直播�
She argues the money could be better spent on services for Kelowna residents and that some organizations benefiting from the exemptions may not align with the city香蕉视频直播檚 values.
香蕉视频直播淎ccording to our 2040 Official Community Plan, funding should be given equitably. So we香蕉视频直播檙e obviously not giving the funding equitably when we香蕉视频直播檙e giving to discriminatory organizations.香蕉视频直播�
The groups claim many religious institutions in Kelowna enforce exclusionary policies or limit access to their spaces based on gender identity, sexual orientation, or beliefs.
George said she香蕉视频直播檚 tried reaching out to council members, including the mayor, to speak before this fall香蕉视频直播檚 vote on tax exemptions but has been ignored.
香蕉视频直播淚 left messages with many of them, especially the mayor. They didn香蕉视频直播檛 call back.香蕉视频直播�
A statement from the city, provided to Black Press Media, said that "in accordance with the Council Procedure Bylaw, delegation requests require a council resolution to be scheduled to a meeting. Correspondence is circulated to council and requestors are encouraged to reach out to individual council members to express their concerns directly."
According to the BC Humanist Association, cities like Vancouver and Keremeos have already moved away from blanket religious exemptions. Instead, groups must apply for community grants and meet the same standards as secular nonprofits.
香蕉视频直播淭he city of Terrace recently put a cap on municipal permissive tax exemptions,香蕉视频直播� said Ian Bushfield, the association香蕉视频直播檚 executive director. 香蕉视频直播淢unicipalities are under strain across the province香蕉视频直播� these taxes that aren香蕉视频直播檛 paid by churches and other groups and places of worship are being paid by homeowners and local businesses.香蕉视频直播�
Amber Hall, communications director for Advocacy Canada, said change is overdue.
香蕉视频直播淭he population香蕉视频直播檚 changing from when all of these rules were set up. And I think that merits the kind of re-examination that KASHA is calling for.香蕉视频直播�
She added that many religious institutions continue to exclude members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
香蕉视频直播淥ut of the 37 faith-based organizations in Kelowna, only four were identified as safe places for people of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community,香蕉视频直播� said Hall. 香蕉视频直播淲e strongly feel that organizations that are taking government money should not be discriminatory.香蕉视频直播�
The groups want council to: approve only a one-year tax exemption for 2025, pause all new five-year exemptions this fall, and create a community task force in 2026 to review and update tax policy criteria.
Hall believes many residents aren香蕉视频直播檛 aware of the scope of the issue, but that香蕉视频直播檚 starting to change.
香蕉视频直播淧eople are definitely getting angry,香蕉视频直播� said Hall. 香蕉视频直播淚 think most people aren香蕉视频直播檛 strongly in favour of this, other than those who are deeply involved in their religion.香蕉视频直播�
In March, KASHA and Advocacy Canada released a statement questioning the city香蕉视频直播檚 approval of the five-year exemptions.
A statement provided to Black Press Media from the city at the time said that, under the Community Charter, a place of worship is given a general exemption (by the province) from taxation for the church building and the land on which the building stands. It also allows council to support such organizations that enhance quality of life and deliver services to residents.
"This is not lost revenue,香蕉视频直播� the statement said. 香蕉视频直播淭he taxation burden is transferred to other non-exempt properties."
