Where in Canada is Aquamation or Alkaline Hydrolysis Legal?

Guest Blog
Guest Blog
March 4th 2024 - 5 minute read
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Learn which Canadian provinces and territories have legalized aquamation aka alkaline hydrolysis for use as a funeral technology.

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 LegalNotes Aquamation Provider
Alberta Not legalN/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.
N/A
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.