I found an older, but great resource which in 1994 calculated the lost property taxation revenue for municipalities in the lower mainland. By exempting churches from property taxes, the 12 municipalities around Vancouver lost out on over $6.2 million per year in revenue, with nearly half of that coming from Vancouver city.
After 16 years of rapid growth, Vancouver is obviously out on a significant source of revenue that could be used to offset residential or commercial tax increases, or to sustain our financially strapped school system.
At the very least, the threat of taxation can be used to push less socially-minded congregations into giving something back to the community.
