Unclaimed dead bodies have been rising in some Canadian provinces. This has been happening over the last few years.
Next-of-kin claim that rising funeral costs are the reasons for not doing so.
Dirk Huyer, the province’s chief coroner said that in Ontario the number of unclaimed dead bodies rose to 1,183 in 2023 from 242 in 2013.
The number of unclaimed bodies grew to 183 in 2023 from 66 in 2013 in Quebec. The number of bodies for whom no next of kin could be located rose to 200 in 2023 from 80 in 2016 in Alberta.
Huyer said that it was distressing to see the increasing number of unclaimed bodies.
“There’s nobody – family, friends, or others – that are in a position to be able to provide instructions or plans for that person after their death.”
The phenomenon has prompted one province to build a new storage facility. Demand for memorial fundraisers has also surged.
Cost has become a big factor in the rising number of unclaimed bodies. Funeral Services Association of Canada President Jeff Weafer said that funerals can cost C$2,000 to C$12,000, said, up from about C$1,800 to C$8,000 in 1998.
Advocates said government support for funerals has failed to keep pace with rising funeral costs. The federal government announced a C$2,500 top-up. This is in addition to the C$2,500 death benefit in the Canada Pension Plan. This was done in the April budget.
A spokesperson for the crowdfunding site GoFundMe said the number of memorial fundraisers has ballooned to 10,257 in 2023 from 36 in 2013.
(REUTERS)
