Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I'm Scott MacLeod. I'm a funeral director in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and I understand, Mr. Chairman, you're from New Brunswick. I'm honoured to be here.
With me today is Sue Lasher, who is our vice-president from Calgary, and Brian McGarry, who is our expert in protocol of funeral service. You might know Mr. McGarry. He's a local funeral director. He's written a book that's just been released, From Paupers to Prime Ministers: A Life in Death. I'll be interested to hear what Mr. McGarry has to say in a moment.
The Funeral Service Association of Canada is perfectly positioned to provide communication to our membership. We represent about 80% of all deaths in Canada, and we have a fantastic communication method to get anything for any directive you may have for our members. We'd be glad and honoured to provide that. We also have a good rapport with our provincial regulators, and we have contact with non-funeral directors as well. We'd be honoured to be a conduit to all funeral homes in Canada.
Although it's not the purview of this committee, we would like to mention that we are in discussions with Minister Blaney about Veterans Affairs concerns, current funding rates of the Last Post Fund. The fund is a not-for-profit organization that delivers funerals and a burial assistance program to eligible Canadian veterans. Fund levels for these funerals have not been adjusted since 2001, and rising costs have meant that funeral directors across Canada have been subsidizing the cost of veterans' funerals. We need a long-term solution to that. Just as we do for statesmen and stateswomen, we want to support our veterans.
I would now like to introduce Mr. McGarry as our expert in state funerals.
Brian.