(Ross Lavigne / CHAT News)

By Adrian St.Onge

SPECIAL REPORT

The cost of dying in Canada is rising

Mar 18, 2024 | 1:19 PM

The City of Medicine Hat buries an average of one person a day for funeral processions.

The costs associated with dying, including wills, burials and permits are often not known and left to the last minute.

According to Canada Life, the average cost of a funeral in 2021 was $9,150. The Medicine Hat cost of burial averages $2,407.

CHAT News, using a variety of official sources, has put together a breakdown on relevant costs.

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Plots of land for loved ones are a substantial part of the cost. According to city websites, Medicine Hat is middle of the pack when it comes to adult plots.

According to Scott Richter, the business and innovation manager for parks and recreation, the cost of the plots are, in part, related to the cost of maintenance and staffing.

These figures are provided by the city websites and do not include other associated fees, such as GST or weekend fees. This chart does not include the cost of cremation.

Edmonton:
General – $2,500 – $4,500

Calgary:
General – $3,952.42 – $4,589.42

Red Deer:
General – $645 – $1,360 (for non-residents)

Medicine Hat – Hillside:
General – $2,563

Medicine Hat – Saamis Prairie View:
General $2,407

Redcliff:
General – $450

Cost and importance of wills

Wills are used to help with the dispersal of assets but should not include your funeral wishes or arrangements.

Probate is the process that courts take to properly validate and confirm a will, which allows the management of an estate.

Without probate, the executor of a will cannot disperse assets.

If a will is not in place, it can lead to more cost and time delays as the courts need to do their due diligence in naming an administrator.

Mark Tagg, a lawyer with Hill and Hill, said that more people need to get wills organized as that can expedite the time between death and dispersal.

Tagg continued by saying that once a will is completed, it should only need to be updated with major life events such as changes to beneficiaries, marriage or divorce or addition of children.

Funeral home services

Most of the costs of a funeral are incurred at the funeral home.

Services provided by funeral homes are limited by the budget that someone has.

Some of the costs are related to paperwork being done on behalf of the family of the deceased.

Some of the paperwork includes document filing for tax purposes and beneficiary payments (e.g. death benefit), as well as securing a death certificate.

The funeral home will also help the family with the preparation of services with the city and a religious affiliation of your choosing.

Chris Martin Jong of Pattison Funeral Homes says that funding for a funeral is no different than funding for a wedding.

Martin Jong says that the funeral can, at times, be covered entirely by the government death benefit.

Alberta is one of the leaders when it comes to funding for those who are on AISH or are in low-income households.