HELP FOR BC’S VETERINARIANS (2025)

Issue

More short-term provincial government investments in veterinary services, along with a long-term strategy to create a provincial veterinarian training institute, are required to protect food security, animal health and welfare, wildlife and marine mammals, and zoonotic disease management.

Background

In 2022, the province announced it was permanently doubling the number of seats it was subsidizing annually at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in Saskatoon from 20 to 40[1]. Yet BC needs 100 veterinarians per year just to maintain service levels, considering retirements, demand, departures to other jurisdictions and changes to animal care[2].

The 2024 BC Government commitment of $1.4 million in funding for the Regional Recruitment and Retention of Veterinary Service Delivery for Food Animals was helpful[3]. So was the $300,000 for the student summer placement program[4] and the streamlining of certification requirements for internationally trained veterinarians[5] but more is needed.

For example, in 2018, the Government of Alberta announced it was ending its annual funding for the WCVM, in favour of funding additional seats at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UVCM), creating a made-in-Alberta solution[6].

A 2023 Economic Impact Assessment of Veterinary Medicine in BC[7] reported that:

• A 2019 labour market study found that there is a shortage of veterinarians in BC. The shortage is most significant for large animal veterinarians and in rural areas.
• In 2022 there were 629 accredited veterinary practice facilities in BC and approximately 1,800 veterinarians working in private practice. Of these, between 250 and 300 veterinarians provide care for large animals.
• In 2021, the ratio of large animals to veterinarians working in large or mixed animal practices in BC was between 3,000 and 3,500 animals per veterinarian. In parts of the interior and northern BC that ratio is between 7,700 and 8,900 animals per veterinarian.
• Services for small companion animals are a key factor in maintaining the financial viability of a veterinary practice. As a result, most practices providing services to large animals, also provide services to small animals.
• Increases in the number of companion animals during COVID have increased the workload of veterinarians.
• $2.4 billion in total output, including direct output of $1.5 billion and indirect and induced output of $0.9 billion.
• $1.4 billion in GDP, including direct GDP of $0.9 billion and indirect and induced GDP of $0.5 billion.
• 12,330 total full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in BC, including direct employment of 8,650 FTEs and indirect and induced employment of 3,680 FTEs.
• Approximately $298 million in total government tax revenues, including $142 million in direct tax revenues and $156 million in indirect and induced tax revenues.

According to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association/Society of BC Veterinarians (CVMA-SBCV), it is possible today for the BC Government to make a $750,000 additional annual investment in training animal techs at Douglas College, and those students could attend classes remotely after the first few weeks[8]. This would allow animal techs (more than 90% of whom are female) to remain in their home communities. Further, part of the schooling requires hours at a local veterinary clinic, so this would position these students to become valuable animal healthcare providers in their communities during and after graduation.

THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS

That the Provincial Government:

1. Immediately fund additional seats for Veterinary Technicians to ensure adequate supports are provided.
2. Immediately fund additional annual seats at the WCVM, should WCVM expand its capacity.
3. Explore options in other provinces and states to find the best model towards developing a provincial veterinary training institute.
4. Engage existing public post-secondary institutions in BC to determine which one may be able to provide immediate support for local programming and accreditation for new veterinarians.