A change to the Canada Pension Plan to provide a flat-rate death benefit to help low-income families cover funeral costs falls short of what funeral homes say is needed to cover the cost of a final farewell. "Government needs to look at it [the death benefit] a little more closely and how they want to deal respectfully with their citizens." The death benefit would likely be worth $5,500 today had it not been capped two decades ago. The death benefit is paid to an estate, executor named in a will or an administrator named by the court. Berthiaume's association has asked governments to consider allowing families the option to direct the death benefit to licensed funeral service providers to offset costs.

Source: CBC News December 16, 2017 20:26 UTC