HELP FOR BC’S VETERINARIANS (2022)

Background

Currently in British Columbia, it is very difficult to find a veterinarian. In northern BC, for instance, clients are waiting upwards of 2 months to see a vet for a sick pet. Clinics are struggling to keep up with the demand, but are at a loss when it comes to hiring new veterinarians. This is not a new problem, it is being further exacerbated by the combination of the COVID19 pandemic and pet owners engaging in more preventative medical practice.

Further to the Government of BC’s announcement of additional funding for the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) on April 4, 2022, we recognize that this funding falls short of current and future demands, leaving perspective Veterinarians and their clients at risk. At current rates, BC must be producing 100 veterinarians per year just to maintain retirements, demand, departures to other jurisdictions and changes to animal care.

For the 2022/23 academic year, the Province will be funding 40 seats at the WCVM, and it is anticipated that approximately that number of veterinarians return to BC to practice here annually. In addition, the government also allots for some “non-funded” seats, which run the student $55k per program year.

In 2018, recognizing the emerging crisis before them, the Government of Alberta announced they would cease their $8M annual funding for the WCVM, opting to create and fund additional seats at the University of Calgary – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UVCM) – creating a made in Alberta solution to the problem.

While BC will accept internationally trained veterinarians, it is an expensive, drawn out, and challenging process. Because of this, it does not have as much uptake as the veterinary community requires.

There is approximately 1600 working veterinarians and about 40% own their own practice, making this practice a significant contributor to the small and medium sized business landscape here in BC. Because of the lack of veterinarians and the increase in pet ownership, vets are burning out. Some owners are limiting the growth of their business because they simply cannot find the staff to service their community and let their business grow.

The Government of BC has been encouraged to fund more seats at the WCVM, but have decline additional funding, leading to today’s significant shortage. Additionally, they have been encouraged to make it easier to welcome internationally trained vets, but that has not come to fruition.

While we know the longer term solution is to fund a made in BC solution, that process will take years of work to implement for an industry that is desperately in need of assistance today:

THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS:

That the Provincial Government:

1. Immediately fund additional annual seats at the WCVM;
2. Undertake a review of the standards and process for approving the credentials of internationally trained and accredited veterinarians;
3. Explore options, similar to Alberta, of moving to a provincial training institute instead of sending future veterinarians to WCVM in Saskatchewan; and
4. Engage the existing post-secondary institutions in BC to determine which one may be in a position to provide immediate supports for local programming and accreditation for new veterinarians.
5. Additional funding be included for the expansion of seats for Veterinarian Technicians to ensure adequate supports are provided