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Baldock funeral licence suspended

Authority alleges financial irregularities

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One of the longest-serving businesses in Norfolk County has closed its doors till further notice following allegations of financial irregularities.

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The Bereavement Authority of Ontario suspended the licence of the Baldock Funeral Home in Simcoe Friday. An official notice is posted at the funeral home on Norfolk Street North, which was established in 1897.

At its website, BAO has also posted a “notice of proposal to revoke the license of Paul Taylor” – owner of the funeral home – as well as a “notice of proposal to revoke the licence of South Coast Funeral and Cremation Inc.,” another business belonging to Taylor.

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In an interview Monday, Carey Smith, the BAO’s registrar and CEO, said agency inspectors moved quickly last week after detecting financial irregularities related to pre-paid funerals and cremations.

“When funeral establishments sell pre-paid funerals, either they take a payment from you in advance or in trust or they sell you an insurance policy,” Smith said.

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“They actually end up collecting a lot of money,” he said.  “Early indications are over $100,000.”

BAO is an arm’s-length regulatory agency funded by the bereavement industry. As such, BAO guarantees all funds in Ontario advanced for pre-paid funerals and cremations.

“The good news is they are protected by a compensation fund,” Smith says.

Attempts to contact Taylor and staff at Baldock Monday were unsuccessful. Inquiries were sent by way of email and a message via social media.

The answering machine at the funeral home directs all inquiries concerning prepaid funerals and cremations to the BAO. The same message said the mailbox was full and that callers should “try again later.”

The allegations against the businesses and Taylor have not been proven.

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The investigation is continuing.

Smith added the investigation leading to the licence suspension and proposals for suspension was not a long one. It began in recent days, Smith said, adding BAO moved quickly once it suspected problems with the paperwork.

“The intention and objective of the (Registrar, Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act 2002) is to protect the public interest,” the proposal to revoke Taylor’s licence says at BAO’s website.

“In doing so, the act requires that applicants carry on business in accordance with the law and with integrity and honesty, and that they be financially responsible in the conduct of business.

“The Registrar has reasons to believe that the conduct of the licensee is inconsistent with the intention and objective of the Act.”

A similarly-worded notice regarding South Coast Funeral and Cremation Alternative Inc. has also been posted to BAO’s website.

MSonnenberg@postmedia.com

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