The NDP says it is appalled to learn that the province is installing temporary units to keep unclaimed human remains frozen in storage.

Party leader Jim Dinn says they were aware there was an issue and filed an Access to Information request on the matter “almost a month ago.”

He says “it’s appalling to think that government’s solution to the growing number of unclaimed human remains is to install more reefer units and freeze bodies.”

Dinn says it’s another indicator of the rising cost of everything from food to heat to housing and now funeral expenses.

Adding to the issue is the burden placed on funeral homes whose compensation for funeral expenses covered by income support hasn’t changed in years despite rising costs.

“I’m sure what we’re going to see” says Dinn “is a flurry…of announcements by the government as to how they’re going to deal with this.” He calls that a “reactionary solution as opposed to working proactively to resolve some of the long-standing issues, whether it’s about streamlining the process, increasing the fees, indexing them to inflation, (and) working with the funeral homes in a meaningful consultation.”

Human remains deserve to be treated with dignity, not stacked in freezers says the NDP.