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In Canada, bodies go unclaimed as costs put funerals out of reach (www.reuters.com)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

27 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Some Canadian provinces have logged a jump in unclaimed dead bodies in recent years, with next of kin citing funeral costs as a growing reason for not collecting loved ones' remains.

The phenomenon has prompted at least one province to build a new storage facility. Demand for memorial fundraisers has surged. The overall cost of a funeral in Canada at the top end has increased to about $8,800 from about $6,000 in 1998, according to industry trade group estimates.

Now, in the wake of an uproar over unclaimed bodies kept in freezers outside the (Health Sciences Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador), the province is constructing a permanent storage unit to hold remains.

"People weren't claiming bodies because they realized they couldn't afford to bury them," said Jim Dinn, leader of the province's opposition New Democratic Party. "It's not about building a bigger storage unit: It's about addressing the underlying cause causing the accumulation of bodies and removing the barriers so people can have a dignified burial."

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 5 months ago (1 children)

When my father died, the Uber driver taking me from my hotel to my family was a woman in the same boat. She told me she was breaking her neck to earn enough in the next couple of days to claim her father's remains from a funeral home. We chatted about our situations. I asked if she'd be offended if I gave her a donation to help. She was so fucking grateful. We could afford the expenses, so it was a real reminder of how barbaric the system is when you're living on the edge monetarily. She didn't even have time to grieve because she had to hustle / grind.

[+] [email protected] -6 points 5 months ago (2 children)

What is also insulting is death tax

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Well, “death tax” at least ( unless I understand what you mean ) is just a portion of the deceased estate. So, they can at least afford it.

I would actually be ok if a basic level of funeral expenses were covered by the state. Like health care, the idea that we, as a society, can take care of everybody to a minimum level appeals to me.

It does not have to be extravagant but people should not be afraid to collect loved ones because of the financial burden.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

I agreed a death coverage should be standard for everyone...basic minimum anyway

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Meh. I'd be less ok with it if massively-wealthy people weren't able to skirt taxes in life. Maybe get rid of it for people under a certain means. But even better, make the wealthy pay their fair share while they're alive.