The minister responsible for the financial well-being of those who find it tough to afford the basics says none of the bodies in storage at the morgue at the Health Sciences were on income support.
The provincial government increased the amount of money it will pay to bury those who struggled financially to what will be among the highest rates in the country.
Neither the PCs nor the NDP is impressed, saying the measures announced yesterday will not solve the larger problem which is bodies going unclaimed and being held in storage at the Health Sciences.
Paul Pike
Children, Seniors and Social Development Minister Paul Pike says they spoke with dozens of funeral home operators who told them the rates paid by government were too low.
Pike says there will be another announcement in the fall on process and regulations surrounding a person who has passed but goes unclaimed.
PC Barry Petten expected more from Minister Pike yesterday.
“This is a start for those who were on income support but we’re still dealing with bodies sitting at the morgue and we’re no further ahead,” said the MHA for Conception Bay South.
Jim Dinn
NDP Leader Jim Dinn went to a funeral on the west coast last week, and just the basic service for her cost over $10,000, far more than the $5,000 maximum payable for a basic service under government’s rate schedule, which does allow for some additional expenses.
He says post-retirement benefit plans held by people allocate $15,000 for burial, so even insurance companies know the cost of a funeral.
