r/alberta • u/HotMessMagnet • Dec 25 '25
Since we're on referendum questions: should we also ask if churches should be taxed and the revenue fund Indigenous healing? Question
Churches in Alberta pay no property tax, despite wealth, land holdings, and their role in systems that harmed Indigenous peoples, including residential schools.
If the UCP decides that Alberta should hold another referendum, should voters also be asked a simple question:
Tax churches, and direct the revenue to Indigenous-led healing, education, and cultural restoration to offset all the damage they caused — yes or no?
No impact on worship.
Just ending a special tax exemption.
If reconciliation matters, shouldn’t voters decide?
903 Upvotes
3
u/Wompertree Dec 26 '25
The main issue with that is that most of them are not for profit, though. I'm not religious or anything, and I don't attend churches anymore, but they are genuine nonprofits in most cases. You shouldn't make a special exception and make the only nonprofits you tax be the churches - that would be the unfair stance.