Consumers making end of life choices for their family members can rest assured that there are laws in BC regulating funeral services, cemeteries and crematoria.

These services and professionals are governed in BC under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act and the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Regulation. This includes the licensing of Cemetery and Crematorium Operators, Funeral Providers, Funeral Directors and Funeral Embalmers.

{October 14, 2011} VICTORIA, BC – Consumer Protection BC has implemented a new policy to publically share information about our licensing and enforcement actions.

{August 15, 2011} VICTORIA, BC – Consumer Protection BC is informing consumers that it has cancelled the funeral service provider licence of North Island Funeral Services Ltd. trading as Yates North Island Funeral Services located in Port Hardy, BC.

{Aug. 3, 2011} VICTORIA BC – Consumer Protection BC is very pleased to announce the launch of www.funeralrightsbc.ca and www.cifsabc.ca, which link to our new cremation, interment and funeral services industries portal. This new website portal, which co-exists with our larger Consumer Protection BC website, provides timely and relevant information for both consumers and licensed businesses in BC. You can now find all of our information in one location!

{July 5, 2011} VICTORIA, BC - Consumer Protection BC is informing our licensed industries of a new policy on the use of financial sanctions, referred to as administrative penalties, for licensed businesses that fail an inspection.

{June 22, 2011} VICTORIA, BC – Consumers have received refunds for services and products not provided by W.R. Chandler Memorials Ltd., a memorial dealer selling markers, plaques and tombstones operating in Vancouver BC.

{April 20, 2011} The minutes of the Cemetery, Interment and Funeral Services Advisory Group meeting are now posted on our website.  You can view all of the meeting minutes by clicking here. A list of the members of the Cemetery, Interment and Funeral Services Advisory Group is also available.

What would you do?  Throughout the month of March we have been sharing our “What Would You Do?” columns to raise consumer awareness during Fraud Prevention Month. Each of our consumer case studies begin with a specific consumer situation, continues with how we might handle such a situation and ends with tips for consumers.

{September 24, 2010} VICTORIA, BC – After conducting industry consultations, Consumer Protection BC is adjusting the licence fees for several of our licensed industries and occupations.   The new fees will come into effect on January 1, 2011.

{August 23, 2010}  VICTORIA, BC - Consumer Protection  BC wants to hear about the issues of BC consumers.  We have just posted a consumer survey on our website that gives members of the public the opportunity to share their experiences with us.

{July 12, 2010} VICTORIA, BC - Consumer Protection BC is seeking industry members and consumers to serve on our industry advisory groups.