COVID-19 VACCINATION &
RELATED WORK
FSAC COVID-19 VACCINATION & RELATED WORK
The Government Relations committee has worked very hard on behalf of not only our membership, but on behalf of our entire profession. We would like to thank committee members Allan Cole, Phil Fredette, Janet Ricciuti, and Faye Doucette for their work and Impact Public Affairs for their support.
FSAC began working to prepare funeral professionals as soon as COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in April of 2020. After several key steps, we were successful in having funeral professionals deemed 'Federally Essential', which led to many wins for our profession related to vaccination priority.
You can see a timeline of FSAC's efforts below with the most current milestones first:
Mental Health Survey
Funeral Professionals Peer Support and McMaster University have come together to lead a national study of the Mental Health and Moral injury of Funeral Professionals during the time of Covid. This voluntary study is for licensed and non licensed Funeral Professionals.
FSAC Information Session - Vaccination in the Workplace
March 17, 2021
James LeNoury, a noted Labour & Employment Law practitioner, presents a webinar to discuss questions and concerns regarding mandatory vaccination.
Response Received from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)
FSAC has received a letter from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, confirming that frontline essential workers are recommend to be vaccinated in the 2nd round of vaccinations.
FSAC Develops 'Vaccination Support Package' to Send to Local MPs
December 8, 2020
Download a package to send to your local MP! Package includes all of FSAC's communication with Public Safety Canada and other federal Government Officials for essential worker status and priority COVID-19 vaccination.
>> Download Package
FSAC Receives Acknowledgement of Priority Consideration for Vaccine
December 8, 2020
Following letter to National Advisory committee on Immunization,
FSAC achieved recognition from the Federal Government that Bereavement Sector workers should be considered in the 2nd round of vaccinations.
>> Learn More
FSAC Sends Letter to National Advisory Committee on Immunization
December 3, 2020
"We have appreciated Health Canada’s and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s support with the provinces to ensure that our sector is supplied with personal protective equipment (PPE) and through other means."
FSAC President Requests Priority Sequence for Vaccine
November 25, 2020
While deathcare workers have been specifically trained to minimize risk through procedural alterations and use of PPE, this does not remove the potential for infection completely.
FSAC Helps Designate Funeral Professionals as 'Essential Workers '
November 25, 2020
"Upon review of the list of services and functions, you will note workers performing mortuary services, including funeral homes, crematoriums and cemetery workers have been included"
FSAC Works with Public Health Agency of Canada to Develop Guidelines
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has been working with FSAC to update interim guidance for death care professionals and has published these on their website below:
- 'Death care services and handling of dead bodies during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic'
- 'Management of mass fatalities during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic
FSAC Works with Public Health Agency of Canada to Host Teleconference
With the new Guidance in effect, Public Health will host a teleconference on Friday, May 1, 2020. This call will cover guidance on a wide variety of sectors, including death care services. To attend, you must
email PHAC with your name, title and address of each person attending. Time of call to be announced.
>> RSVP Here
FSAC created a short survey for Canadian funeral professionals to complete to assist with ongoing discussions with the Government, media and more. Last day to complete survey is Wednesday, May 6, 2020.
April 19, 2020
Following the recent accomplishment of Funeral Directors being deemed Federally essential, FSAC has prepared a local MP letter template with instructions for use by funeral professionals.
FSAC Provides Letter Template to 'Work Closely' with Health Care
Along with the Local MP Letter Template, FSAC has prepared a letter template for you to use with local health care professionals to 'keep the lines of communication open' during pandemic.
Following FSAC Letter, Funeral Directors Deemed 'Federally Essential'
Following a letter from the Funeral Service Association of Canada (FSAC), Public Safety Canada deemed Funeral Directors federally essential.
>> Read the full article
FSAC's COVID-19 Press Release Featured in 4 Major Newspapers
April 2, 2020
FSAC published a Press Release stating "Funeral Providers Stand Ready to Serve" in Canada. This was featured in the Toronto Sun, Ottawa Sun, Calgary Sun, and Sudbury Star.
>> Read the full article
FSAC Sends Letter to Minister Hajdu Requesting Critical Worker Status
March 20, 2020
FSAC President, Brett Watson, sent a letter asking funeral service profession be recognized as critical infrastructure workers. Since then, the QC and ON governments have declared this.
>> Read the letter
April 2, 2020
FSAC, on behalf of its members, signed a letter to all levels of government requesting that the funeral profession be included in the essential and critical services category across the country.
>> Read the letter
Did you know...
FSAC Participated in
50+ Media Interviews in 2020?
See, hear and read some of these media interviews on behalf of our profession.
