In Ontario, Canada's most populous province, the number of unclaimed dead bodies rose to 1,183 in 2023 from 242 in 2013, said Dirk Huyer, the province's chief coroner. Finances went from being the reason for 20% of the total unclaimed bodies in 2022 to 24% in 2023. In Quebec, the number of unclaimed bodies grew to 183 in 2023 from 66 in 2013. Now, in the wake of an uproar over unclaimed bodies kept in freezers outside the hospital, the province is constructing a permanent storage unit to hold remains. Government support for funerals has failed to keep pace with rising funeral costs, advocates have said.

Source: bd News24 May 18, 2024 18:14 UTC