Hello everyone and Happy New Year,
I hope that the new year is off to a great start for you all. This is typically the busiest time of year in funeral service, so I know we are all busy keeping up with the work of serving families. As we start 2025, I wanted to share an update of what the Board is actively working on.
First, we are pulling the last few details together for our conference this year. With Easter being so late, it will actually be in May, instead of the last week in April and we are back at the River Cree Resort and Casino in Edmonton. We are excited to open up registration for the conference and applications for the awards and scholarships in this newsletter. All the information on the conference is listed below. One request we have heard from members over the last few years at conference is to see if we can change how the AGM fits into the schedule, as it can be hard to get up early following the banquet. So, this year we are excited to try a new schedule and will be holding the AGM on Friday afternoon prior to the banquet. Therefore, there will not be any meetings on the Saturday. We look forward to your feedback on this change to see if it should be the plan for future years. We are also excited to share the sponsorship and media packages for 2025; information on them can also be found below.
Second, we have been meeting with the Executive team of SCSS – Funeral Benefits, where we have discussed a few items. The first of those is a question that has been brought forth to AFSA about the embalming benefit amount and if a portion of it can be applied for if embalming is not taking place, but additional preparation is required. We reviewed this with the Executive team of SCSS and found that when the current benefit was established, the base benefit was intended to cover basic preparation for a viewing when not embalming. The Embalming amount is intended for use only when embalming takes place. If there are additional fees for preparation work when embalming is not authorized by the family, these can be submitted on a case-by-case basis as an exceptional amount and the Funeral Benefit team will review the request and consider if additional funds should be approved or not.
Another conversation we had was regarding the cemeteries and when families are being charged more than the Act and Regulation outline they should be charged. The Executive Team reached out to the director of the Cemeteries Act and they indicated that if a family feels they are being overcharged, they can submit a complaint to the consumer investigation unit. Information on how to file a complaint can be found online at: File a consumer complaint against a business | Alberta.ca.
The last item we discussed is the plan to work with them on creating a best practices document for funeral homes that are applying for the Funeral Benefit at the direction of the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT). We hope to have this together in the next month or two.
Third, the OCME subcommittee for rural transport has been meeting much of last year. The executive was able to hold a meeting with the OCME and discuss the concerns that were brought forward from the subcommittee and to also hear the concerns that their office has had as well. The concerns we shared with their office were about assistance with transfers to/from the OCME, timely payment of invoices, the use of non-PQR funeral homes and the current payment rates. Their OCME indicated they are not able to assist with transfers. The funeral home is responsible to do that work and this is not going to change. Regarding the payment of invoices: they said the best way to speed up payment is to invoice the OCME more often and sooner. This works better for their accounting office as well. So for those submitting invoices for rural transport, please invoice as soon as possible and do it more frequently, in order to help expedite the payment. The OCME said that they were aware of non-PQR funeral homes being called to perform transfers and they have stopped this practice, although they have noted that they are still working to figure out solutions in areas with no PQR funeral home. The OCME is also aware of our concern about the payment rates and would like to support us in beginning discussions about rate increases. We will work with their office this year to start conversations with the government areas that handle the funding of these rates.
One concern they shared with us was in regard to the way that bodies are being transported in or out of their locations and the suitability of equipment that is being used. We also discussed working together on a policies and procedures manual for all funeral homes to follow. This is something we are happy to assist with.
Fourth, we have a meeting with the OPGT in the next few weeks and look forward to continuing the positive and collaborative relationship we have with their office.
Fifth, we continue to work with Alberta Counsel to discuss all the government work mentioned above. We will be sending out a brief 2-pager that summarizes the focused work we are doing with the government. This way, all members will be aware of the messaging so that all communication with your local MLA is unified and consistent.
Last but not least, the Board meets this week and we are excited to continue the work mentioned above. Please register for the conference and/or submit your sponsorship package soon.
Thanks,
David Root
President – Alberta Funeral Service Association