Questions and Answers April 28, 2020 – Registrar’s COVID-19 Update Webcast to Licensees
This set of Qs&As lists answers to questions received in comments following the April 28, 2020 webcast presentation for licensees. This list does not include questions that were answered during the webcast, or that were previously answered. Please see our list of Qs&As from previous webinars. Thank you for your participation.
These Qs&As are made available to consumers/families for their information.
The determination of whether an operator can continue to operate will be made by the local Medical Officer of Health.
Unlike hospitals and LTC, retirement homes and hospices are not part of the Expedited Death Response process. We are informed that LTC and retirement homes are already taking steps to prevent the spread between their facilities.
All COVID-19 restrictions and the BAO Registrar’s Directives remain in place, until further notice, during the Government of Ontario’s phased framework for reopening the province. The 10-maximum directive at funeral homes (not counting FH staff), remains in place.
Yes. While the directive requires that no more than 10 people attend a funeral in a funeral home or at a cemetery, each operator can limit the number of people to fewer than 10 to ensure the safety of the community and their staff.
Not as it stands right now.
The contract between a funeral home (FH) and a third-party contractor has nothing to do with the contract between the FH and the consumer/family.
If the price list that the FH provides to the consumer lists a price for embalming, then that is what the consumer would pay.
It’s up to the FH to deal with the third party to whom it may be outsourcing the embalming. If the pricing and alleged gouging become an issue, the funeral establishment or transfer service operator, who entered into a contract with the consumer, will be responsible to explain the pricing and non-compliance with the pricelist – not the third-party provider.
