Last month I had the pleasure of being part of a roundtable discussion with the BC Humanist Association, hosted by Humanist Canada, about the cost of religion in Canada. It was a fun and engaging conversation, covering most of what was discussed in CFIC's Cost of Religion reports, plus some additional insights based on original research done by the BCHA.
Watch and learn how just a few policy choices from all three levels of government costs Canadians over $5.6 billion - yes, with a "b" - every year, in direct and indirect subsidies to religious organizations.
I bet if we had transparent, itemized drip taxation for the religious add-ons foisted on us, as we do for certain municipal services and taxes such as the GST/HST, there would be an outcry against them! Or maybe secularists could apply for quarterly religious support rebates? Better yet, why not have believers declare themselves on their tax returns to be charged a special cost of religion levy? Why not treat religion as we do tobacco and fossil fuels?
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