Where in Canada is Aquamation or Alkaline Hydrolysis Legal?
Last updated: Dec. 7, 2022
Aquamation – sometimes called water cremation, flameless cremation, or alkaline hydrolysis – is legal as a human funerary process in four Canadian provinces and one territory with legislation being considered or requested by public lobby efforts in some provinces. In the US, aquamation is legal in more than 20 states. (See also state by state aquamation legal status.)
Learn more about aquamation / alkaline hydrolysis in this in-depth Q&A article.
Aquamation is legal for use with pets in all states, provinces and territories in Canada and the U.S.A.
See Canadian province and territory aquamation legal status in the table below for human use as well as the dates it became legal.
| Province or Territory | Aquamation Status | Date it Became Legal | Notes | Aquamation Provider |
| Alberta | Not legal | N/A | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Alberta. | N/A |
| British Columbia | Not legal | N/A | There is a movement to lobby the B.C. provincial government to legalize aquamation, but so far no bills have been tabled. See this BC aquamation petition
There is a movement to lobby the provincial government to legalize aquamation including a petitionbut no bills in B.C. have been tabled yet.
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| Manitoba | Not legal | N/A | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Manitoba. However, a government spokesperson told a CTV reporter in October 2022, "The government has committed to modernizing the bereavement legislation and comprehensive consultations – which the government will be undertaking. Research and analysis of alternatives to traditional burial and cremation, along with discussion involving consumers, industry and stakeholders, will be undertaken." | N/A |
| New Brunswick | Not legal | N/A | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in New Brunswick. | N/A |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Legal | 2019 | Newfoundland and Labrador is the fourth Canadian province to allow alkaline hydrolysis for human use. | CentralFuneralHomes.ca has been offering the service since 2021. |
| Nova Scotia | Not legal | N/A | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Nova Scotia. | N/A |
| Ontario | Legal | May 2015 | Only high temperature aquamation was approved in Ontario. | Eirene.ca |
| Prince Edward Island | Not legal | N/A | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in PEI. | N/A |
| Quebec | Legal | March 2015 | Quebec was the second Canadian province to legalize aquamation. | La Sieur |
| Saskatchewan | Legal | 2012 | Saskatchewan was the first province in Canada to approve aquamation. | Eirene.ca provides services in Saskatchewan. See also Alkaline Hydrolysis in Saskatchewan |
| Northwest Territories | Legal | July 2020 | No facilities currently available in NWT. Closest aquamation facility is in Edmonton. | N/A |
| Nunavut | Not legal | N/A | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Nunavut. | N/A |
| Yukon | Not legal | N/A | The legislation under the Yukon Funeral Directors Act and the Act to Amend the Funeral Dirctors Act defines a crematorium and who can cremate human remains (licensed funeral director). It does not address aquamation. | N/A |
Have an aquamation question? Want to make arrangements?
You can ask our experts a question via email at support@eirene.ca, or arrange aquamation for a loved one. You can also preplan an aquamation for yourself with our company. For information about our service areas please visit our locations page.
