The health minister says he can’t say how many bodies are currently in cold storage containers outside the Health Sciences Centre because the number continues to fluctuate.
But Tom Osborne says the government is working on a more respectful and efficient way of dealing with them.
The government will help with basic funeral costs when the family or trustee makes the request.
But the PC’s Barry Petten says that leaves a big gap for those who have no one to make that call.
“What if there’s no family to call them? Who calls then? These are unclaimed bodies. A lot of these people have no families,” Petten said in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.
“When can they expect a proper burial or are they going to stay in those containers by the hospital, which is unsightful, distasteful and ridiculous? What are you going to do with these unclaimed bodies that can’t pick up a phone and call you?”
Osborne says the growing number of unclaimed bodies is a problem across the country. He says it’s a complex issue, and changes are needed, noting several departments of government are looking into it.
“There may be changes in legislation required to allow a more expeditious process,” he said. “But under the current legislation there is a process that needs to be followed in identifying next of kin or somebody connected to the individual before it goes to the public trustee. We are anxious to get a more expeditious process.”