Fair Taxes – Fair Future: Rethinking Property Taxes for Religiously Owned Properties

The Kelowna Atheists, Skeptics, Humanists Association (KASHA) and Advocacy Canada are challenging the blanket permissive property tax exemptions granted to religious organizations that own public worship buildings, event halls, and surrounding lands. This July, religious organizations in Kelowna will reapply for lucrative five-year tax breaks under Kelowna’s Permissive Tax Exemption Policy 327, allowing them to avoid paying property taxes on multi-million-dollar properties.

Visit our information page before the event – askuskelowna.ca/pte

KASHA and Advocacy Canada question the automatic approval of these tax exemptions and argue that religious organizations should demonstrate clear public benefit—not operate as taxpayer-subsidized private clubs. The city is not required to exempt entire properties surrounding worship buildings, yet this historical privilege remains largely unchallenged.

Kelowna residents are invited to learn, ask questions, and take action to ensure taxpayer dollars are used fairly and equitably.

The presentation will include:

Topics include:
How religious organizations receive tax exemptions.
How Kelowna’s tax policy subsidizes exclusionary practices.
Proposed reforms for greater accountability, equity, and public benefit.

For more information and petition:
askuskelowna.ca/pte
(Data sources: 2020 public worship applications, census, revenue, donation and property assessments data)