Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK
June 16, 2025 - 6:00 AM
A group of atheists in Kelowna are trying to plead their case to city hall that discriminatory religious groups shouldn’t get tax exemptions.
The Kelowna Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists Association and Advocacy Canada have been pushing back against public worship tax exemptions and now the group is looking for support to get in front of Kelowna city council.
“Religions are allowed to discriminate,” Nina George with the association said. “They have that right, it's called religious freedom... but we also have a right for freedom from religion.”
She said groups that practice and preach homophobia shouldn’t get a tax break.
“There's only four churches that are open to LGBTQ people,” she said. “People are outraged that this is still going on.”
George said the goal isn’t to interfere with how people practice their beliefs, but to take a look at the public worship tax exemption.
READ MORE: Kelowna advocacy group challenges property tax exemption for religious groups
The association is urging people to write to council to accept a delegation to discuss the policy before the applications for five-year exemptions, including for religious groups, are due on July 15.
George said the goal is to get the exemption changed to a one-year exemption so the city has time to take a look at changing the policy.
There are 54 religious groups listed under the public worship tax exemption for 2024 for a total loss of roughly $350,000 in tax revenue, according to the city’s annual report.
The city hasn’t changed its public worship tax policy since 2005.
In March, the group launched a petition to spur some change, but George said it needs to get a delegation in front of city council. She said councillors need to vote to approve of a delegation before someone can make a presentation during a meeting, which is why the association is hoping people write to councillors.
“We recognize that there's good in a lot of these things for people, especially the churches that are not discriminating. They do a lot of good work.” George said. “All we're asking is for a one-year exemption and just an examination of this public worship category.”
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