Changing Death-Care Legislation

Alberta Legislature

In Alberta, death-care service providers like Pine Box Funerals, are governed by the Funeral Services Act and the Cemeteries Act. These Acts are controlled by provincial legislation, and though there have been minor recent amendments, were written more than 20 years ago. 

There have been some major advancements in the death-care industry over that time period that are not reflected in these Acts. As such, the options available to the consumer of funeral services in Alberta are still limited. I would like to draw attention to new methods of final disposition – which is how we refer to the final resting options for a body - that should be available for Albertans, and that may spark your desire for change. I will also share some information about how we can instigate revisions to provincial law.

New Final Disposition Options

Currently in Alberta, cremation, burial or donation to science are the only choices available when it comes to deciding what should happen to our bodies after we die. World-wide advances are being made that expand our options, and offer greener alternatives. Are any of these compelling enough to ask for changes to our provincial legislation?

Aquamation

Aquamation or Alkaline Hydrolysis is another more sustainable body disposition option. This process involves placing the remains in a vessel containing a solution of water and alkaline chemicals. The vessel is then heated and pressurized for several hours to speed up the dissolution of the body. Once complete, just the bones remain. These are ground into powder that is a similar texture to ashes and can be scattered in the same way. Aquamation is considered to be a greener alternative to cremation by fire as it requires less heat and is completed in the same amount of time. Is this an option Albertans should have available to them?

Terramation

Terramation, also known as Recomposition or Human Composting, is a relatively new concept in body disposition. The terramation process takes a few weeks and involves placing final remains in a special container along with organic materials that promote natural decomposition. The result is nutrient-rich soil that can be used to nourish plants. 

This is a green alternative that enriches the earth with nutrients and organic matter resulting in healthier, more productive soil.  When compared to traditional burial it not only reduces land use and preserves natural habitats, but also avoids the production, use, and disposal of chemicals required for the embalming process, as embalming is not part of the terramation process. Additionally, terramation is a carbon-neutral or near carbon-negative method which when compared to traditional cremation, is a big step forward. However, this option is not currently available in Canada. The Good Green Death Project is advocating to make it legal in Ontario. Should it be legal in Alberta too? 

Green Burial

Did you know that there are only a few cemeteries in the greater Edmonton area that are able to offer green burials? As people’s commitment to environmental sustainability grows, other cemeteries could benefit from incorporating natural burial options into their space.

Should this service be more accessible?

Changing Legislation

Change can only happen at a legislative level and it is time that our governing acts are given a review. Changing provincial law in Alberta can be a slow and complex process but if we all take the time to follow these simple steps, we can affect real change:

1. Educate Yourself
   Learn about the options you would like to see and what you think should be added to our legislation.

2. Educate Them
   It is the consumer of funeral services that needs to bring ideas for change to the attention of their MLA and the Minister, Service Alberta at ministersa@gov.ab.ca. Ask them if  they are familiar with these new disposition processes. They need to be made aware that voters want additional death-care services to what is currently available in Alberta.
   If you are contacting a candidate by email, be sure to CC: deborah.wagar@gov.ab.ca and karen@afsrb.ab.ca. The Cemeteries Act, Service Alberta and Alberta Funeral Services Regulatory Board work together to make note and keep track of electorate suggestions on behalf of the Minister, Service Alberta.  Including Deborah and Karen in your communications ensures your input is not lost with the candidates after the election concludes.

3. Ask for Change
   Ask your MLA to draft and introduce a bill that outlines amendments to the Funeral Services and Cemeteries Acts. Outline what changes you would like to see implemented by the bill.

4. Advocate for Change
   It can be difficult to talk about death and death-care practices, but in order to make change, the government needs to hear from more than one of us. Talk to members of your community, friends and family. Educate them about the final dispositions options that you would like to see in Alberta and ask them to ask for change. 

We all need to work together to affect meaningful change to the death care practices in Alberta. We can have a positive impact on the environment and open up options for end of life wishes. We just have to decide what we want and not be afraid to talk about it. As always, please reach out if you have questions or want more information about anything I have talked about.