Families will get help retrieving deceased loved ones

MICHAELA RODRIGUE
Nunatsiaq News

IQALUIT — Baffin families who must pay to bring deceased relatives back from Ottawa will soon have their financial burdens reduced.

The Baffin Regional Health and Social Services Board recently announced plans to provide a discount to families who must fly deceased relatives back to their communities.

The health board has approached First Air to provide the discount. First Air still hasn’t given a formal reply, but health board chief executive officer Jarvis Hoult said he expects a formal agreement to be in place by the end of this week.

“I believe the discussion that I had with First Air was such that they will take into consideration families who must repatriate loved ones from Ottawa at a discounted rate similar to that which the board has,” Hoult said.

The discount may be available directly to family members. If not, Hoult said the board will make repatriation arrangements and pass the savings on to its clients.

“One way or another we will find a way,” he said.

The Baffin health board has a service agreement with First Air that gives it discounted rates on cargo costs.

Hoult did not know exactly how great the savings will be per person but he called the discount “substantial” and estimated they may shave 25 per cent off the cost.

Currently relatives must make arrangements for repatriation on their own or through the Ottawa Health Services Network.

Hoult also offered to provide a similar discount to Nunavut residents who must retrieve deceased family members from the Baffin Regional Hospital.

Residents in Grise Fiord, who use the Kenn Borek airline for transportation, will also be offered a similar discount, he said.