Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan says churches should be able to offer social services for the homeless and poor without going through red tape at city hall.
He plans to introduce a motion to city council next month that could resolve concerns about the future of charitable programs in residential neighbourhoods.
Sullivan appeared at Holy Rosary Cathedral downtown Vancouver on Friday before attending a service there.
"As of the moment when this is passed, churches will no longer require a social service permit to do the things they are called to do by their religion," he said.
Last September, CTV reported parishioners at Vancouver's Tenth Avenue Alliance church were concerned their charity programs were in jeopardy after neighbours complained about the church's services.
The church regularly offered shelter and food to the homeless.
After neighbours complained, city hall told the church it needed a social services permit in order to continue providing services.
But to attain a social services permit, the church would have had to hire security guards to stand on the sidewalks, and gather personal information from the people who sought food and shelter there.
Sullivan's draft motion resolves to:
"Include in the administration of Vancouver land use policies, acknowledgement that provision of services to marginalized people is a service customarily provided by faith communities, and as such, that these services, where provided in conjunction with an existing centre of a faith community's use, will not require special land use permits, other than those required to ensure adequate fire and life safety provisions."
Sullivan says churches and temples will still have to abide by all standard health and safety regulations.
Ken Shigematsu, Senior Pastor of the Tenth Avenue Alliance Church, was glad to hear news of Sullivan's efforts.
"I am grateful that Mayor Sullivan has recognized this fact, that when churches are unencumbered by unnecessary outside regulations, we have the freedom to best serve the whole community."
