OFSA Celebrates the McGuinty Government's Support

OFSA CELEBRATES THE MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT’S SUPPORT OF A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR BUSINESSES

Tuesday January 30, 2007 -- Toronto, Ontario: The Ontario Funeral Service Association (OFSA) and its membership, family independent funeral homes, are celebrating the passing the recent changes to the Assessment Act.

“Before Bill 152 was introduced, there were inequities in the way businesses that performed the same services operated,” Philip Screen, President of the Ontario Funeral Service Association. “Cemeteries could go beyond their mandate to inter bodies and could open up a version of a funeral home, the same as our members operate; however, the cemeteries were able to maintain their tax exempt status.”

Funeral directors across the province spoke up to let the government know that this business practice was unfair, and similar businesses must be taxed similarly. Subsequently, with appropriate amendments to level the playing field for businesses, Bill 152, the Ministry of Government Services’ Modernization Act was passed in December 2006.

OFSA was instrumental in working with the provincial government to make changes that would make bring more fairness to the funeral profession. In celebration of Bill 152, OFSA has launched a new marketing campaign and member benefit program entitled “Your Family Matters” to promote the success of family independent funeral homes.
“The Ontario Government reacted to our needs as independent businesses in the province, and enacted a legislative change that basically states the similar business must be taxed appropriately and all pseudo and legitimate funeral homes that open up on cemetery property must be charged municipal tax or equivalent contributions to their care and maintenance fund,” Robert McKinlay, Chair of the Legislative Committee of the Ontario Funeral Service Association.