The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) is a government delegated authority and notfor-profit corporation administering provisions of the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 (FBCSA) on behalf of the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery.
Responsible for protection of the public interest, the BAO regulates, ensures compliance with the law, and supports licensed:
• Funeral establishment operators, directors and preplanners; • Cemetery, crematorium and alternative disposition operators; • Transfer service operators; and • Bereavement sector sales representatives across Ontario.
The BAO is wholly funded by licensee fees (not tax dollars).
The BAO’s Consumer Information Guide: A Guide to Death Care in Ontario is a free consumer-protection information booklet.
The guide is designed to support informed consumer choices regarding funeral, burial, cremation and hydrolysis services.
It is written for families and the public to know their rights and responsibilities before entering into contracts with organizations that are licensed under the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002. All licensees of the BAO are required to provide consumers with a copy of this guide.