Veterinary hopefuls from Manitoba will get a few more seats at the table, the province announced Sept. 29.
Manitoba will increase its funding at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan, which is the primary school for vet training in Western Canada.
Why it matters: Vet shortages have been particularly acute in rural areas, where the ag sector needs vet services the most.
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Seats dedicated to Manitoba students will increase to 20 from the former level of 15, hopefully starting in 2023-24.
The change will require the province to increase its WCVM contributions by almost $540,000. The new funding level will bring Manitoba’s offering to just over $7 million in 2023-24, rising to more than $7.6 million in the year after.
The province said it hopes the number of Manitobans in the four-year program at any time will eventually rise to 80, up from 60 now.
Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson noted the extra seats will be geared toward large-animal, commercial livestock practice.
“Our government is committed to increasing the availability of quality veterinary care to all Manitobans, especially for the agricultural sector that is so vital to our provincial economy,” he said.
“Animal health enables the success of our province’s agricultural industries, so investing in the training of more veterinarians, particularly those with large-animal expertise, will ensure this valuable support is available when needed.”
The shortage of large-animal vets is felt in Manitoba as well as other provinces. According to the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, about 800 veterinary jobs in that province sit empty.
The veterinary program at the University of Calgary, meanwhile, expects to double its intake over the next three years.
Alberta, once a big spoke in the funding wheel for the WCVM, withdrew funding in 2020 that guaranteed 20 seats for Alberta veterinary students at the Saskatchewan school. It instead funded additional spaces at the University of Calgary.
British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba now fund the WCVM.
Manitoba’s veterinary and ag sectors welcomed the announcement. Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) president, Dr. Keri Hudson Reykdal said the extra seats will have an impact on the province’s vet shortage.
“The commitment to educating more veterinarians will help alleviate the shortage over the long term,” she said. “In the shorter term, the MVMA will continue to engage with government, veterinary professionals and other stakeholders to address the shortage of veterinary services in Manitoba.”
The Manitoba Pork Council counts the shortage of large-animal vets as part of a wider and more general shortage of labour in the pork sector, an issue it says limits growth potential. Among other things, the council has suggested streamlining accreditation for foreign-trained veterinarians.
“Large animal veterinarians, like those that work in the hog sector, are vital partners in ensuring that our animals are raised healthy and free of the threat of disease outbreaks,” council chair Rick Préjet said Sept. 29.
“Today’s announcement will ensure that we can continue to close the gap in the necessary number of veterinarians practicing in Manitoba, and that our sector can continue to sustainably grow our herds.”
