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CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Community rallies to give unclaimed Harbour Grace man a funeral
Residents of Conception Bay North are working to claim one of their own from a hospital freezer 11 hours ago Duration 2:36 A Harbour Grace restaurant owner says she was heartbroken when she discovered that a fellow resident of her community went unclaimed after he died. "It's just… heart-wrenching that somebody was forgotten. And that's the only way to say it," said Pauline Yetman. "They were actually forgotten in a freezer." Yetman was talking about the 26 deceased people who lie in long-term storage freezers at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John's. Basic information about each individual is published on a Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS) website. Rendell Crane is one of them. He was a Harbour Grace man who died at age 72 in 2023. Yetman doesn't know everything about him, but she knows that he and his wife were frequent church-goers, and that Crane was originally from Upper Island Cove. She also knows that there's a tombstone with his name on it, and a plot for him next to his wife, who died in 2007. "I just can't picture somebody being neglected, and forgotten and disrespected like that," Yetman told CBC News Friday. "Someone has to know you. You deserve a little more than a freezer." New legislation gives NLHS the power to bury unclaimed bodies after two weeks of searching for next of kin, and five days after the person is posted on a dedicated website. The health authority has issued a tender for a funeral home to handle those burials. Yetman said she won't let that happen to Crane. Her restaurant, Route 66 Diner and Pub, is hosting a fundraiser Saturday to raise money for a funeral. Yetman said it will also serve as a celebration of his life, even if she didn't know him. Now, the wait begins. Yetman is hoping to get confirmation that a local funeral home can claim Crane's remains for cremation and a service. It's not clear whether a municipality or an unrelated party can claim a body, but NLHS chief operating officer Ron Johnson said the health authority will "work with" people. "We're not being exclusive here," Johnson told reporters Friday. "We're trying to be inclusive to bring anyone forward to help with the process. Now, there are some legalities here that we have to work through and will certainly help people work through them." He said the new legislation is meant to help people bury unclaimed bodies in the most appropriate place. Johnson said he understands why people are emotional, and NLHS is trying to manage the sensitivities throughout the process. "This has been very emotionally challenging for our whole team," he said. In the meantime, Yetman is searching for more information about the unclaimed individuals from Conception Bay North. "If I can help… I think we owe it to these people," she said. "I pray to God that nobody else has to go through this," Yetman said with tears in her eyes. "I hope that there's never another body in a freezer anywhere in this world."
CBC
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Former premier Andrew Furey MIA from HOA
The only thing that's been in Andrew Furey's House of Assembly seat over the last two weeks is Lucy Stoyles's handbag. Since the House reopened for the latest sitting, the former premier and member for Humber-Gros Morne is the only MHA who has been absent from the entire session. Andrew Furey stepped down as premier earlier this month but has not resigned as MHA, meaning he still continues to collect the $95,000 a year salary. Furey hasn't been in the house since May 9, when John Hogan took over the job. "While he was available if required, he requested and was granted leave by the caucus whip," Diane Randell, who handles communications for the Liberal caucus, told CBC News when asked why Furey wasn't in the house. She didn't provide any details about the reason he's not in the house. Before stepping down, Furey told reporters that he had operating time booked at the Health Sciences Centre after he was no longer premier. Furey was an orthopedic surgeon before entering politics and said he planned to return to that full-time after leaving politics Furey risks fines for absence The House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration act requires MHAs to attend every day the house is open, unless they have a valid reason. That includes illness, a death in the family, or to attend to constituency business. WATCH | Furey's absence could be costly: Andrew Furey not seen in legislature since he was replaced as N.L. premier 2 hours ago Duration 2:17 For the last two weeks, one MHA has been missing from the House of Assembly: Andrew Furey. He may no longer be premier, but he's still the MHA for Humber-Gros Morne. As the CBC's Peter Cowan reports, Furey's absence could be costly. The speaker can also grant an MHA leave, but a spokesperson for the speaker's office says so far they haven't received a request from Furey. If the absence isn't authorized then $200 for every day they're not in the house is deducted from a member's pay Furey's absence raises concerns: PCs Progressive Conservative MHA Barry Petten was surprised not to see Furey in the house. He was premier when the budget was introduced in April, but he wasn't there when MHAs voted to pass the budget late on May 14. "If you're an MHA there's a responsibility to get approved leave, notify the speaker your dealings. Nobody is saying you can't do the surgeries but you still have to look after your district," said Petten. Petten questioned whether Furey's constituents are getting the representation they deserve, and whether Furey is still making trips to his district. "If he's not he definitely should resign because he's not doing anyone any favours. Otherwise he's collecting an MHA's salary while he's over practicing medicine." The $95,000 a year salary is significantly less than what he earned as a surgeon. Public records show Furey billed $731,564.26 for his medical work in 2018-19 before he entered politics. If Furey does resign it wouldn't require a byelection, because it's within six months of the fixed elections date, which will take place on or before October 14. Resigning now could mean losing out on pension In order to be eligible for a pension after leaving politics, a member has to be elected twice, which Furey has, but the rules also say they have to be an MHA for at least 5 years. Furey became premier in August 2020, but wasn't elected as an MHA until October 2020, meaning he's likely several months short. CBC News asked the government about when exactly Furey would be eligible for a pension and spokesperson David Sorensen wouldn't provide a date, only quoting the rules which say five years. The size of his pension would likely not be very large, based on his relatively short service. The legislation says MHAs and ministers, which includes the premier, earn 2 per cent of their salary per year, so if he reaches five years of service CBC News calculated that his pension would likely be around $16,000 a year. Sorensen wouldn't confirm that calculation is accurate saying because he hasn't left "a calculation of his potential pension is not possible at this time."
CBC
16-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
N.L. hasn't buried a single unclaimed body since legislation change in January
The government of Newfoundland and Labrador made a legislation change four months ago meant to tackle the growing number of unclaimed bodies being held in freezer units at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John's — but it has yet to bury a single person. According to the amended legislation, which was filed on Dec. 24 and came into effect on Jan. 1, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS) has the power to bury unclaimed remains after two weeks of searching for next of kin and then five days after the identity of the person is posted online on a dedicated website. The website also has yet to launch. Health authority spokesperson Mikaela Etchegary told CBC News in an email that work is still ongoing on the legislation and the website. "N.L. Health Services handles unclaimed human remains respectfully and will take steps to identify and contact individuals who may be entitled to claim the remains, prior to posting information to the web page," she wrote. Etchegary said the number of remains still long-term storage facilities changes frequently, but as of May 14 there were 27 bodies. "To date, no burials for unclaimed remains have been completed by N.L. Health Services as we finalize operationalizing the legislation," she wrote. CBC News first reported the health authority was storing 28 bodies in freezer units in an alleyway on hospital property more than a year ago. It was due to a lack of space in the morgue, which doubles as the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Over the summer, NLHS relocated the freezers to the hospital's underground parking garage and built a wall around it. Procedure in place Health Minister Krista Lynn Howell, who took over the portfolio last week, says there is a procedure in place for the health authority to deal with unclaimed bodies. "We do expect that they are following that to the letter on how they conduct the operations around these unclaimed remains. So they have a more clear pathway as to how they handle this," Howell told reporters on Thursday. But even with the website not up and running, she wouldn't say whether the legislation was working. "That would be our expectation of NLHS and certainly we'll have further conversations about that with the CEO and ensuring that we do the most appropriate measures to, with dignity, handle any unclaimed remains," Howell said. Progressive Conservative MHA and health critic Barry Petten says it's alarming that dozens of bodies are still in storage and that it reflects poorly on the province. "The province brought in this legislation, they were going to come up with processes," he said. "We're finding out there's still bodies in these coolers. It's just not satisfactory." Petten says no matter how someone lived or died, people deserve a dignified burial. "I don't think that's a satisfactory answer."
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
N.L. hasn't buried a single unclaimed body since legislation change in January
The government of Newfoundland and Labrador made a legislation change four months ago meant to tackle the growing number of unclaimed bodies being held in freezer units at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John's — but it has yet to bury a single person. According to the amended legislation, which was filed on Dec. 24 and came into effect on Jan. 1, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS) has the power to bury unclaimed remains after two weeks of searching for next of kin and then five days after the identity of the person is posted online on a dedicated website. The website also has yet to launch. Health authority spokesperson Mikaela Etchegary told CBC News in an email that work is still ongoing on the legislation and the website. "N.L. Health Services handles unclaimed human remains respectfully and will take steps to identify and contact individuals who may be entitled to claim the remains, prior to posting information to the web page," she wrote. Etchegary said the number of remains still long-term storage facilities changes frequently, but as of May 14 there were 27 bodies. "To date, no burials for unclaimed remains have been completed by N.L. Health Services as we finalize operationalizing the legislation," she wrote. CBC News first reported the health authority was storing 28 bodies in freezer units in an alleyway on hospital property more than a year ago. It was due to a lack of space in the morgue, which doubles as the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Over the summer, NLHS relocated the freezers to the hospital's underground parking garage and built a wall around it. Health Minister Krista Lynn Howell, who took over the portfolio last week, says there is a procedure in place for the health authority to deal with unclaimed bodies. "We do expect that they are following that to the letter on how they conduct the operations around these unclaimed remains. So they have a more clear pathway as to how they handle this," Howell told reporters on Thursday. But even with the website not up and running, she wouldn't say whether the legislation was working. "That would be our expectation of NLHS and certainly we'll have further conversations about that with the CEO and ensuring that we do the most appropriate measures to, with dignity, handle any unclaimed remains," Howell said. Progressive Conservative MHA and health critic Barry Petten says it's alarming that dozens of bodies are still in storage and that it reflects poorly on the province. "The province brought in this legislation, they were going to come up with processes," he said. "We're finding out there's still bodies in these coolers. It's just not satisfactory." Petten says no matter how someone lived or died, people deserve a dignified burial. Given the legislation hasn't been operational after months, Petten says he questions the government's willingness to act on the problem. "I don't think that's a satisfactory answer." Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
CBC
16-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Unclaimed bodies remain in N.L. hospital freezers, despite legislative changes
The provincial government changed legislation to help bury unclaimed bodies kept in freezer units at the Health Sciences Centre. Four months later, none of those remains have been buried. The CBC's Elizabeth Whitten explains.
