How does the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 (FBCSA) impact municipalities? This session will explain the mandate of the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) and the legislation - FBCSA - that it administers. We will identify the various levels at which a municipality is impacted by the legislation and the requirement for a municipality's compliance as a licensee. We will also explore the initial approval authority for establishments, buildings and severances related to cemeteries.
Municipalities act as financial trustees of care and maintenance funds, and are ultimately responsible for neglected and abandoned cemeteries. Abandoned cemetery lands should be conveyed to a municipality to ensure that they are preserved and protected in perpetuity.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the bereavement sector in Ontario and know how to respond to issues that every Ontario citizen will eventually face
- Understand how to ensure your municipality is compliant as a cemetery or crematorium operator with the proper operational and reporting requirements including bylaws, price lists, interment rights, certificates, collection, and contributions to care and maintenance funds
- Know how to act as trustees for yourselves and other operators in the maintenance of neglected or abandoned cemetery sites and understand how to control associated resources and costs
Speaker
Michael D'Mello
Deputy Registrar, Bereavement Authority of Ontario
Michael D’Mello is the Deputy Registrar at the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, the regulator of the bereavement sector for Ontario. His responsibilities include outreach and education specifically related to cemeteries and crematoriums that are licensed and operated under the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 (FBCSA).
As the Registrar from 2000 to 2016 with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, he regulated and administered the Cemeteries Act (Revised) and subsequently the FBCSA, concerning cemeteries, crematoriums, and burial site discoveries. He joined the BAO in 2016 and is currently focusing his outreach and education workshops on ensuring all cemetery sites are licensed, and that licensed operators (including municipalities) comply with the FBCSA.
Michael hopes that this session will reduce the liability associated with operating cemeteries and permitting developments to assist municipal professionals in serving their communities.