December 8, 2021 -MPP Jessica Bell introduces Private Member's Bill to Enshrine Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries as a Public and Charitable Corporation
The Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries (MPGC) trust was founded in the 1800’s using public money, and was run by trustees as a public trust for most of its history. By the mid 2000s, the MPGC board began to claim the trust was their own commercial, privately owned cemetery. Today, the MPGC trust amounts to a $3-billion public asset with 1,222 acres of urban forest.
On December 8, 2021 University-Rosedale MPP Jessica Bell introduced a Private Member's Bill that, if passed, would enshrine Mount Pleasant Cemeteries as a public and charitable corporation. CCIFB extends its thanks to MPP Bell, Toronto City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, Geoff Kettel from the Federation of North Toronto Residents Associations, and Gary Foster from the Ontario Monument Builders' Association for their advocacy and support.
The Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries are treasured sites from Oshawa to Brampton where our loved ones are buried, and where the living find peace, relaxation and enjoyment. To help ensure they stay that way, sign MPP Bell's petition here, which will be read in the legislature.
You can read the full bill here.
Auditor General’s Report on the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO):
Overview:
News Release December 7 2020:
https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/news/20_newsreleases/20AR_news_09BAO.pdf
The Auditor General speaks about the BAO in a video:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/3LtsjgJ7MX8
Access the Auditor General's full report:
https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en20/20VFM_09BAO.pdf
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS) Proposal January 2021:
To allow access by commercial cemeteries (and funeral home combos) to the capital portion of their “Care and Maintenance Funds”.
To increase the amounts levied for "Care and Maintenance Fund/Account" (CMF/A) and "marker repair", both of which increase the CMF/A.
Ministry of Government and Consumer Services link to the Regulatory Registry Overview:
https://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/mail.do?action=displayComment
You can find our response to the consultation paper here: CCIFB Response
Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS) Proposal August 2021:
The consultation paper seeks feedback on the following bereavement sector topics:
Consumer protection measures, including transparency on pricing information, prevention of upselling and/or aggressive sales practices, safety of new disposition technology;
Priority of persons with legal authority to make decisions regarding decedents;
Interest on Cemetery CMF/As, exempting municipal cemetery operators from CMF/A requirements
Ministry of Government and Consumer Services link to the Regulatory Registry Overview:
https://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=37807&language=en
Ministry of Government and Consumer Services Consultation Paper: Consultation Paper
You can find our response to the consultation paper here: CCIFB Response
The Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries (MPGC) trust was founded in the 1800’s using public money, and was run by trustees as a public trust for most of its history. By the mid 2000s, the MPGC board began to claim the trust was their own commercial, privately owned cemetery. Today, the MPGC trust amounts to a $3-billion public asset with 1,222 acres of urban forest.
On December 8, 2021 University-Rosedale MPP Jessica Bell introduced a Private Member's Bill that, if passed, would enshrine Mount Pleasant Cemeteries as a public and charitable corporation. CCIFB extends its thanks to MPP Bell, Toronto City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, Geoff Kettel from the Federation of North Toronto Residents Associations, and Gary Foster from the Ontario Monument Builders' Association for their advocacy and support.
The Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries are treasured sites from Oshawa to Brampton where our loved ones are buried, and where the living find peace, relaxation and enjoyment. To help ensure they stay that way, sign MPP Bell's petition here, which will be read in the legislature.
You can read the full bill here.
Auditor General’s Report on the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO):
Overview:
News Release December 7 2020:
https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/news/20_newsreleases/20AR_news_09BAO.pdf
The Auditor General speaks about the BAO in a video:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/3LtsjgJ7MX8
Access the Auditor General's full report:
https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en20/20VFM_09BAO.pdf
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS) Proposal January 2021:
To allow access by commercial cemeteries (and funeral home combos) to the capital portion of their “Care and Maintenance Funds”.
To increase the amounts levied for "Care and Maintenance Fund/Account" (CMF/A) and "marker repair", both of which increase the CMF/A.
Ministry of Government and Consumer Services link to the Regulatory Registry Overview:
https://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/mail.do?action=displayComment
You can find our response to the consultation paper here: CCIFB Response
Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS) Proposal August 2021:
The consultation paper seeks feedback on the following bereavement sector topics:
Consumer protection measures, including transparency on pricing information, prevention of upselling and/or aggressive sales practices, safety of new disposition technology;
Priority of persons with legal authority to make decisions regarding decedents;
Interest on Cemetery CMF/As, exempting municipal cemetery operators from CMF/A requirements
Ministry of Government and Consumer Services link to the Regulatory Registry Overview:
https://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=37807&language=en
Ministry of Government and Consumer Services Consultation Paper: Consultation Paper
You can find our response to the consultation paper here: CCIFB Response
