Have I Seen You Somewhere Before?

**This featured case is one example of the concerns people have brought to us. Names have been changed to protect the identity of the people involved.

Before Abbey’s* father passed away, he made arrangements for his burial with a privately-owned cemetery. Sometime later, the cemetery was taken over by the province and a manager appointed. After Abbey’s father passed away, she had some questions and concerns about the cost of the arrangements, so she contacted the manager. She was not satisfied with his response and sought out recourse at the Consumer’s Branch in the Ministry of Justice – only to find that she was dealing with the same person!

Abbey did not think the prices were fair and she did not think that she should have to appeal to the very person with whom she was having a difference of opinion. She called our office.

Our investigation found that while the costs were comparable to those charged by other cemeteries, the same person should not manage the cemetery and take complaints about it. Even though she received a fair decision, the process was unfair. We recommended that the Ministry no longer allow this dual role to exist and they agreed.

*Names have been changed to protect identity.