Resolutions Search
Veterinary Shortage
Status
Endorsed by the NCLGA Membership | Endorsed by the NCLGA and UBCM Memberships
WHEREAS there is a critical shortage of veterinarians, particularly for large animals, in BC;
AND WHEREAS the Province of BC sponsors 20 IPA (Inter-Provincial Agreement) students (out of the 140+ who apply) per year for the four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, and has committed to one year funding for an additional 20 students for 2022-23:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NCLGA and UBCM request the Minister of Advanced Education and the Government of BC commit to funding a total of 40 veterinary students under the Inter-Provincial Agreement in each year for four years at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
Actions
Letter dated December 13, 2022 from Bobbi Plekis, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills:
Thank you for your letter sent to the Honourable Anne Kang, former Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training, now the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills (PSEFS), regarding North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA)'s 2022 Resolutions. Your correspondence has been forward to me as Deputy Minister. 1 am responding on behalf of PSEFS s new Minister, the Honourable Selina Robinson. 1 apologize for the delayed response. As you know, these items were also adopted as resolutions at the recent Union of British Columbia Municipalities' Conference. 1 am pleased to provide the provincial response to these resolutions in the attached document.
Regarding the veterinarian Care issue, I understand PSEFS staff together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, organized a meeitng with regional district representatives of NCLGA and the SOciety of BC Veterinarians which was held on November 28. Supporting increased veterinary care services in rural and remote regions is a shared priority and working together will advance those efforts.