Kelowna, BC – The Kelowna Atheists, Skeptics, Humanists Association (KASHA) and Advocacy Canada are challenging the automatic 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.
Key Findings from KASHA’s Research:
2024 Religious Property Exemptions: ~$272,881,200 in tax-exempt property value
Estimated Lost Revenue to City, Schools, and Hospitals: ~$5,000,000 over application period.
Some of these religious organizations redirect their tax savings to support proselytizing and political activities outside of Kelowna. Additionally, some donate to causes that work against human rights, including:
2SLGBTQIA+ rights
Reproductive freedoms
Dying with dignity initiatives
Furthermore, many of these organizations operate like private clubs, failing to meet the community accessibility requirements outlined in Policy 327.
Why This Matters
Demographic Shift: According to the 2021 Census, 54% of Kelowna residents are non-religious.
Rising Tax Burden: Kelowna’s property taxes have increased 3.6% annually over the last decade, outpacing inflation (2.6%).
Exclusion in Faith-Based Spaces: Advocacy Canada’s research found that only 4 out of 37 faith-based organizations in the Okanagan were considered safe and affirming for the queer community.
“As Kelowna taxpayers grapple with rising costs and increasing user fees, we must ask: should public funds continue to fully subsidize organizations that provide overlapping services? The vast majority of Kelowna’s religious organizations are Christian. Why are taxpayers funding duplicate, multi-million-dollar properties that are often underutilized and inaccessible to secular individuals—while some direct their savings toward political causes outside of Kelowna,” said Nina George, lead researcher at KASHA.
“This is not an attack on spirituality, but an invitation for the religious doctrine based organizations to align with our shared societal values and contribute more equitably to the community,” said Nina George, lead researcher at KASHA.
“We believe that faith-based organizations that benefit from tax exemptions should provide tangible benefits to the broader community, ensuring their publicly subsidized status aligns with values of inclusivity, equality, and social good. If an organization receives a permissive tax exemption, it should demonstrate a commitment to serving all members of society without discrimination, particularly when it comes to 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, gender equality, and other fundamental human rights. Public funds should not be used to support institutions that exclude or marginalize individuals based on their identity or beliefs,” said Wilbur Turner, President of Advocacy Canada.
Call for Change
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.
How the Public Can Get Involved
Kelowna residents are invited to learn, ask questions, and take action to ensure taxpayer dollars are used fairly and equitably.
Public Presentation – Fair Taxes – Fair Future: Rethinking Property Taxes for Religiously Owned Properties – Sunday, March 9, 2025 | 1-3 PM, Kelowna Downtown Library (1380 Ellis Street)
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
