Opposition critics say N.L. government is failing families who need help burying loved ones

Opposition critics say the Newfoundland and Labrador government needs to do more to help families whose loved ones are lying in hospital freezer storage units, waiting for burial.

NDP Leader Jim Dinn says he was outraged by a CBC News interview with a woman, Janice Strickland, who can't afford to bury or cremate her daughter, who she says is among dozens of unclaimed bodies being kept in long-term freezer storage.

"You've got people then, like Mrs. Strickland, who are the victims … caught in the middle of this," Dinn told CBC News.

Strickland's 31-year-old daughter, Sarah, died last week and was taken to the Health Sciences Centre for an autopsy. Strickland said she went to a funeral home to make arrangements and was quoted $4,000 for a cremation, which she says is money the family does not have.

To help cover the expenses, her son started an online fundraiser and she also asked the provincial government for financial assistance.

Newfoundland and Labrador families on income support can apply for provincial government assistance for up to $2,338 to help with cremation or burial costs, but that figure hasn't changed in nearly two decades.

Strickland says she was told that since her family started a fundraiser, the government wouldn't offer any help. 

'They've done nothing'

Dinn says he's not optimistic that the government will come up with a solution, noting that the freezer storage units at the hospital became public in March and there has been no movement to solve the problem.

Earlier this month, an access-to-information request he filed revealed the government has known about the issue of unclaimed bodies for years.

"They've done nothing. And instead we have another tragic story of a mother, in this case, looking to bury her daughter and unable to do so and penalized for just trying to come up with the extra money not provided by government," said Dinn.

"That, to me, is pure callousness on the part of the government."

In June, the freezer units were moved from the hospital loading zone and relocated to a nearby parking garage. It's also where the health authority is building an expanded facility with more storage.

Dinn says the government would prefer to keep the freezer storage units in the parking garage where people can't see it, rather than help people bury their loved ones.

"Every Newfoundlander and Labradorian should be outraged by this, regardless whether their loved ones are affected by this or not. It's just shameful," he said.

'Atrocious,' say PCs

PC health critic Barry Petten said he's disgusted by the situation.

"I think it's atrocious. I think it's sad. It's unfortunate," he said.

He called on the government to solve the growing problem of bodies going unclaimed, rather than storing them.

"You can't just continue to leave things as they are. You can't move these freezers to the basement of the hospital and expect things to go away," said Petten.

The government needs to find a way to help Strickland bury her daughter, said Petten.

"I feel embarrassed to be a part of this province to see stuff like this happen. We all should. This is just not acceptable."

Petten wants to see an agreement between the government and funeral homes to get unclaimed bodies buried, adding the solution might also include legislation.

"No matter who you are in life, everyone deserves to be treated with some dignity. If they can't afford it, they can't just leave 'em in the freezer. This problem is not going away. You have to find a solution," said Petten.

Children, Seniors and Social Development Minister Paul Pike has yet to speak with CBC News on the issue of unclaimed bodies, despite being asked numerous times.

In a statement on behalf of Pike, spokesperson Gayle St. Croix said he couldn't comment on individual cases due to confidentiality.

Government assistance to people who qualify goes to the funeral homes, and families should not have outstanding amounts unless they bought other items, like an expensive casket.

"In terms of fundraising, each case is different. Generally fundraising by family or friends would not impact government's coverage unless the fundraising is conducted by a spouse," says the statement.

Health Minister John Hogan told CBC News he met with funeral home directors when he was minister of Justice and Public Safety on the issue of funeral costs.

"They did discuss that families are struggling, sometimes, to pay for burials and pay for cremation and don't have any other choice but to not collect their family," he said.

Hogan added Pike previously said in the House of Assembly that government assistance could be increased to help families.

"So that will obviously give them comfort, give them a level of closure and of course, make — hopefully — the freezers unnecessary at the Health Sciences Centre," said Hogan.

Hogan did not give a timeline for when that financial assistance adjustment could happen.

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