Ontario regulator's notice tells cemetery operators price lists must be clear and match what is charged
Why this matters: our read
This reads as a reminder of existing duties, not a new rule. The notice cites no sections of the Act and describes no penalties, so it tells operators what the regulator looks for when it reviews price lists.
The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) published a notice on September 14 summarizing three price list requirements for cemetery operators.
Operators must give a current price list to anyone who asks, free of charge. Those with public premises must offer copies or post a sign saying lists are available. A cemetery website should make its list easy to find and downloadable.
Purchasers should be able to easily determine what is being purchased and the cost.
Lists must also be clear. Each product and service should carry its current price, and the BAO says purchasers “should be able to easily determine what is being purchased and the cost.”
Third, charges must match the list. The BAO says operators should keep discounts and adjustments transparent, and the care and maintenance contribution “must still be calculated at the listed price” when an interment right is discounted. The BAO’s example is a $1,000 lot that produces a $400 contribution. HST is excluded from the deposit.
The notice cites no sections of the law and describes no penalties. It does warn that outdated care and maintenance amounts lead to under-contribution, which the operator must make up with additional contributions. The BAO regularly reviews price lists for these contributions, and they have been a required submission with the Report on Care and Maintenance since 2025.
Sources
- Published by
- Bereavement Authority of Ontario
- Role
- Primary source
- Item
- Notice to the Profession: Cemetery Price Lists
- Published