In the summer, the BC legislature's finance committee published its report on the Budget 2026 consultations. As an organization dedicated to promoting progressive and secular values, we participated in these consultations to ensure the voices of the 52% of British Columbians who are humanist or non-religious were heard. Our advocacy is resonating as our priorities were reflected in the Committee’s discussions.
Back in June, we presented to the committee to ask for three things: An end to automatic religious property tax exemptions, a phase out of funding to religious private schools and a commitment that public funds go to secular services.
Listen to our remarks:
Our submissions to the Committee were explicitly acknowledged in the report.
"The BC Humanist Association spoke to the need to ensure government spending goes to secular and inclusive programs to ensure that public funds are not used to subsidize programs that may discriminate providing services based on religion."
Further, the report highlighted our call to end religious property tax exemptions:
"The Committee heard from the BC Humanist Association and several individuals who recommended that religious property tax exemptions be ended, to alleviate the tax burden on homeowners and local businesses."
Finally, in the context of K-12 education, the report stated:
"The BC Humanist Association along with several individuals advocated for ending or phasing out public funding for faith-based and private schools, noting that a considerable amount of the provincial funding for independent schools goes to faith-based schools."
Critically, we were not lone voices on these latter two points. While, unfortunately, our submissions were not endorsed by the committee this year, we're pleased to see a growing chorus of voices echoing our calls.
Conversely, the committee also heard from the Christian nationalist group ARPA Canada that sought an end to public funding for abortion, medical assistance in dying and gender affirmation.
The fight for full secularism, particularly concerning religious tax exemptions and the complete disentanglement of public funds from religious institutions in education and healthcare, continues. These areas require even more robust and sustained advocacy.
We will continue to press governments to promote secular values. Already we are monitoring Parliamentary business for bills and committee discussions to take part in. And we'll make sure to ask you to add your voice as well.
To keep advancing these crucial goals and ensure that our progressive and secular values continue to shape public policy, we need your ongoing support. Your membership, donations, and engagement empower the BC Humanist Association to be a strong, effective voice for change. Let's work together to build a truly inclusive, evidence-based, and secular province for all.
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