Charles Grodzicki, a CI Member in Vancouver, British Columbia area has recently become increasingly worried about BC's anti-cryonics law in connection with his attempts to make cryonics arrangements. He has been rebuffed by BC funeral directors when he asked them if they would assist in a cryonics case. Despite all of the supposed disclaimers and "comfort letters" the funeral directors still believe cryonics is illegal in BC and are terrorized by the law.

Charles has made contact with the government official charged with enforcing British Columbia funeral and cemetery law and has gotten support from a Vancouver journalist. Although the journalist was not interested in cryonics for herself, she has been touched by the human rights aspect.. She would be very interested in being contacted by any British Columbia cryonicists or would-be cryonicists: The Vancouver journalist mentioned above would be very interested in being contacted by any British Columbia cryonicists or would-be cryonicists

To contact Danielle: degandesk@telus.net

British Columbia's anti-cryonics law was enacted in 1990 as Section 57 of Bill 42 (Cemetery and Funeral Services Act). Under the heading "Arrangements Forbidden" is Part 5, Section 57: "No person shall offer for sale or sell any arrangement for the preservation or storage of human remains based on cryonics, irradiation or any other means of preservation or storage, by whatever name called, that is offered or sold on the expectation of the resuscitation of human remains at a future time" but was re-written in 2004 as Section 14 of Bill 3, and can be viewed on-line at:

(I challenge anyone to show an example of someone claiming "irradiation" as a means of storage for the "expectation of future resuscitation". This was undoubtedly the concept of a hostile bureaucrat who wanted to discredit cryonics by associating it with something that is patently ludicrous.)

Since the year 2000 there have been two "comfort letters" written by British Columbia bureaucrats concerning cryonics:

Solicitor General Coleman to Olaf Henry

("Henny" [sic]), September 2002

Solicitor General Coleman states that funeral providers are prohibited from offering cryonics arrangements on the expectation of future revival, but that cryonics businesses are not prohibited from operating and consumers are not prohibited from accessing cryonics services. Although a BC funeral director cannot sell cryonics arrangements, a BC funeral director is not prohibited from preparation and transport for cryonics purposes (to an organization outside of BC, presumably). This letter was copied to Tayt Winnitoy, the Registrar of Cemetery and Funeral Services.

Registrar Winnitoy confirmed to Cryonics Institute Facilities Manager Andy Zawacki that a BC funeral director is not prohibited from performing preparation and transport services related to acryonics arrangement.

If a similar letter has been written to Alcor, I would like to know about it. In any case, these letters have not influenced the attitudes of funeral directors that Charles Grodzicki has attempted to persuade to help him. I suggest initiating a new letter-writing campaign. We have had writing-campaigns in the past to British Columbia with little effect, so some of us may have become (unduly?) cynical about such efforts. But we should not let this issue drop, especially when there are British Columbia cryonicists who are working for change.

Also, we have recently learned about a disconnect between the government and the BC funeral director's association. According to one source the funeral director's association has had no knowledge of the "comfort letters". The topic of the anti-cryonics law has not once been mentioned at a bi-monthly meeting with the government during the 15-year career of the Executive Director of the association.

A campaign by cryonicists may be a way to put cryonics on the agenda of one of those meetings in a way that could have a favorable outcome for BC cryonicists.

Approaching the Funeral Services Association of BC is an idea which we have not tried before. If the government is genuine in its claim that it will not prohibit BC citizens from making cryonics arrangements with cryonics organizations outside of BC including funeral director assistance, then that message could be disseminated to the BC funeral directors through their provincial association. In the past, cryonicists have only been lobbying the government bureaucrats, but some lobbying of the Funeral Services Association of BC also seems very appropriate.

I request that all cryonicists concerned with the legal situation in British Columbia phone or send a letter, FAX or e-mail message to Tayt Winnitoy, who is in charge of implementing BC funeral law and/or to Janet Ricciutti, who is the Executive Director of the BC Funeral Service Association. You can be creative if you can express your concerns in a constructive manner, but try to avoid too much self-righteous attacking, which can easily be self-defeating. Persuasion should be the emphasis. I have written sample text below which you can use if your imagination fails you.

Tayt Winnitoy, Director of Operations

Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority

P. O. Box 9244,

Victoria, British Columbia

Canada V8W 9J2

Telephone: (604) 320-1667

Fax: (250) 920-7181

Toll Free: (888) 564-9963

*********************************

Janet Ricciutti

Funeral Service Association of British Columbia. Suite 211

2187 Oak Bay Ave.

Victoria, BC. Canada V8R 1G1

Telephone: (250) 592-3213

Toll Free: (800) 665-3899

Fax: (250) 592-4362

*********************************

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear XXX,

I am concerned about Section 14 of Bill 3 (2004) which I regard to be an infringement on the rights of free people to arrange for the disposition of the remains of their loved-ones as they see fit, whether that be burial, cremation OR CRYOPRESERVATION. I believe that Section 14 has no place in the legislation of a purportedly free society and that efforts should be made to repeal this legislation.

I request that you use your knowledge of the facts and the authority of your position to inform the funeral directors of British Columbia that they are not in violation of the law if they assist in preparation or shipment of the human remains  of someone who has arrangements to be cryopreserved by a cryonics organization outside of British Columbia.

Sincerely,

There may be little lasting effect if there is a bombardment of messages on a single day or two followed by no follow-up.

There is something to be said for sending messages on a regular or irregular basis.

In that case I propose setting up a round schedule right here and now. Over the next 20 weeks or further out if someone suggests so, lets all sign up to take a particular week. To do this lets trust Andy and/or Ben to draw lots for us so we don't all pick a time period close to each other and have to waste time adjusting. I suggest varying the number sent per week whoever sets up the schedule so it appears more random. Just sign onto the tail end of this message if you volunteer to send a letter, a real snail mail letter:

James

I aim to make BC my home in the near future. More than happy to add my name here.

Ronan Burnett

From Ben:

I can add the names of two additional British Columbia officials who would be suitable subjects for lobbying efforts.

Cryonics has never been mentioned at one of these meetings. Tom Aquiline is the Chairman of this group and he is a mediator between the BPCPA and the private funeral/cremation businesses. The issues of the anti-cryonics law and the impunity of funeral directors in helping with a cryonics case should be brought to his attention.

Tom R. Aquiline

Tel: (604) 296-2855

The second official who should be added to the list of those who should be made aware of the anti-cryonics situation in British Columbia is Betty Down, who is a Senior Policy & Legislation analyst for the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

Betty Down has the ability to recommend changes/repeals of current BC laws or, at least, to forward these requests to policy makers.

Ms. Betty Down

PO BOX 9283 STN PROV GOVT

Victoria BC V8W 9J7 CANADA

Tel: (250) 387-3920 or (250) 387-3398

FAX: (250) 387-2631

E-mail: Betty.Down@gov.bc.ca

******

From John de Rivaz

Mark Walker, a member of the Cryonics Europe Yahoo group, posted this message, in which he said that he got a constructive reply after emailing.

I have written to both of these and just had a reply from Tayt Winnitoy acknowledging there may be some misunderstanding amongst BC funeral directors and funeral providers about the policy. Our concerns are going to be passed to the Chair of their Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Advisory Group Tom Aquiline. This Group looks after both the consumer and the industry.

I have been told they will look into this and if necessary make the Funeral community more aware of the situation.

Our concerns have also been copied to the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. I haven't posted the actual response as the reply contains a Confidentiality warning.

Regards Mark

Sincerely, John de Rivaz:

CI DIRECTOR