Dinn Calls for Clarity on ‘Due Diligence’ in Handling of Unclaimed Bodies
- NL NDP
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
For Immediate Release
May 28, 2025
With new regulations around the disposal of bodies coming into effect, NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) is calling on government and NL Health Services (NLHS) to clearly define what constitutes 'due diligence' in efforts to locate the next of kin of deceased individuals.
After the NDP and media revealed that bodies were being stored in freezer units beside dumpsters at the Health Sciences Centre, government finally acted, introducing changes to ensure the deceased receive a dignified burial. While Dinn welcomes the changes, he says questions about the process need answers.
“NLHS says the process will now include 14 days of ‘due diligence’ to locate next of kin, followed by five days of public notice online. But what does ‘due diligence’ actually mean?” asked Dinn. “Is it just sending an email and waiting two weeks? Or is it actively working through those 14 days to find a contact? What personal information will the website include? There are so many questions left unanswered.
“It’s critical we get this right,” Dinn added. “In 2023, a man discovered his sister had been cremated and buried weeks earlier, without the promised notification, only after calling the Public Trustee’s office. That can’t become the norm.”
Dinn says NLHS must be clear about what “due diligence” entails and what additional resources have been allocated to make it possible. He emphasizes the need for greater transparency around the issue.
“After government was exposed for this failure, they moved the freezer units with unclaimed bodies into the hospital parking garage, behind a wall, hiding the problem rather than addressing it. It took sustained pressure before they finally changed the legislation,” said Dinn.
“Once again, we’re left with more unanswered questions—something that’s become all too common with this government,” he added. “People in this province deserve to know exactly what ‘due diligence’ means, and that the proper resources are in place to ensure it’s done right.”
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For further information, contact Stephanie Curran, Media and Communications Officer, NDP Caucus at 330-0328 (o), or stephaniecurran@gov.nl.ca