Funeral home in Scarborough remains shutdown in tribunal decision

The Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT) has ordered the Registrar, Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 (FBCSA), to carry out his Notice of Proposal (NOP) to not renew the:

• Operator licence of Covenant Funeral Homes Inc. operating at 2505 Eglinton Ave. E., Scarborough, and;  
• Funeral Director Class-1 licence of Luann M.H. Jones.

The LAT’s Decision and Order, made on Sept. 16, 2024, means that Luann M.H. Jones may not act in the capacity of a licensed funeral director and the funeral establishment is no longer in business.

Jim Cassimatis is the Registrar of the FBCSA and the CEO of the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO).

In the Decision and Order, LAT Adjudicator Rupinder Hans states:

“Having considered all the evidence, I find that the Registrar has proven the bulk of the allegations made against the appellants with regards to the past conduct of Ms. Jones affording reasonable grounds for the belief that the appellants will not carry on business in accordance with the law and with honesty and integrity. 

“I further find that the Registrar has established that Ms. Jones made false statements in applications for renewal of licensure, and that Covenant is unable to provide the resources and facilities for the operation of a funeral home … I direct the Registrar to carry out the NOP.”

The Registrar issued a Notice of Proposal to Refuse to Renew the licences of Ms. Jones and of the funeral home on Jan. 26, 2023. The funeral home has not been in operation since January 2023.

Appeal process

People and businesses have 21 days from the decision date to ask the LAT for reconsideration, and 30 days to appeal to the Divisional Court, a branch of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

The Order of the Licence Appeal Tribunal is effective immediately, however the LAT may grant a stay of the Order pending an appeal, if one is filed.

About the BAO

The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) is a government delegated authority and not-for-profit corporation administering provisions of the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 (FBCSA). Accountable to the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement and the government, the BAO is responsible for the protection of the public interest. The BAO regulates, ensures compliance with the law, provides resources and services to licensed:

• Funeral establishment operators, directors and preplanners;
• Cemetery, crematorium and alternative disposition operators;
• Transfer service operators; and
• Bereavement sector sales representatives across Ontario.

The BAO is wholly funded by licensee fees (not tax dollars).

Media contact
David.Brazeau@thebao.ca
Manager, Communications, BAO