BAO issues cease and desist order to London area funeral services company and funeral director

The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) delivered a cease and desist order this week to a London area funeral director and funeral services company for failure to renew their licences.

Neither funeral director Steven Masters, of London, nor Masters Funeral Services Ltd., in Dorchester, 18 kilometres east of London, have renewed their licences with the BAO. Both licence renewals were due by their expiry date of Dec. 31, 2022. Personal and business licences must be renewed with the BAO as required by law, the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 (FBCSA).

Therefore, both the operator and personal licence statuses are expired, and they must cease and desist all activities that require a licence under the FBCSA, except to provide any services and supplies left outstanding under contracts executed prior to the date of the BAO order letter on Feb. 7, 2023.

Masters Funeral Services Ltd. is a business-to-business company and does not serve consumers directly. It has also been ordered by the BAO to cease all advertising, including its signage, telephone listings of the business and to either close down its website or put a notice on its homepage that says the business is closed. An application for reinstatement of both licences is expected.

About the BAO

The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) is a government delegated authority administering provisions of the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 (FBCSA) on behalf of the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery. Responsible for protection of the public interest, the BAO regulates and supports 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
Bereavement Authority of Ontario