Close X
Saturday, November 30, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. doubles funded veterinary college seats

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Apr, 2022 02:36 PM
  • B.C. doubles funded veterinary college seats

VICTORIA - British Columbia is doubling the number of seats it will subsidize for first-year veterinary college to address a shortage of animal doctors.

Anne Kang, the minister of advanced education and skills training, says the province will provide $10.68 million to support 40 students entering the Western College of Veterinary Medicine this fall.

She says demand for subsidized seats at the Saskatchewan-based college has been high and tuition fees have been a barrier for aspiring veterinarians.

With more graduates in years to come, Kang says people in B.C. can expect shorter wait times for their family pets to receive care, and farmers and ranchers will be able to access a veterinarian as they need for their livestock.

Agriculture Minister Lana Popham says extreme weather, including widespread flooding last fall, has been a major challenge for farmers and ensuring B.C. is home to more veterinarians will hopefully help to ease some of their worries.

She says the expanded funding means B.C. is maximizing the number of seats the province is allowed to subsidize at the veterinary college each year.

When asked on Monday if the expansion will be enough to address the effects of the veterinarian shortage, Kang said it's "one of the many solutions we're working on."

B.C. is also considering ways to improve recognition of foreign credentials and looking at opportunities for veterinarians who would like to move to B.C. to practise, she said.

Dr. Helen Bell of the Pacific Cat Clinic in Victoria told the news conference that it has been difficult for people to access timely care for their animals and veterinarians and their staff have been burning out "under the crushing workload."

She said the expansion is "wonderful news for the profession."

MORE National ARTICLES

More sanctions coming against Russia: Joly

More sanctions coming against Russia: Joly
With further details on sanctions to come later this week, Joly told reporters Ottawa will do everything in its power to ensure Russia is isolated diplomatically, economically and politically, while providing Ukraine with weapons.

More sanctions coming against Russia: Joly

Feds must do more to combat racism, groups say

Feds must do more to combat racism, groups say
Fareed Khan, founder of Canadians United Against Hate, says the government needs to start by acknowledging that the country and its institutions were built upon Indigenous genocide, slavery and white supremacy.

Feds must do more to combat racism, groups say

Woman says she saw a man allegedly pulling down a young child's pants at a local business

Woman says she saw a man allegedly pulling down a young child's pants at a local business
According to the complainant, she was in a parent monitoring room of a local business when she observed a man allegedly pulling down a young child’s pants. The complainant viewed the incident through a television, which cycles through surveillance from various cameras located throughout the business.

Woman says she saw a man allegedly pulling down a young child's pants at a local business

VPD arrests suspect in Granville SkyTrain assault

VPD arrests suspect in Granville SkyTrain assault
VPD investigators now believe the victim and suspect had a brief verbal confrontation outside the station, and that the suspect followed the victim into the station, pushed him down a set of stairs, kicked him, and fled before police were called.

VPD arrests suspect in Granville SkyTrain assault

199 COVID19 cases for Friday

199 COVID19 cases for Friday
There are 290 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 46 are in intensive care. In the past 24 hours, six new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,966.

199 COVID19 cases for Friday

Canada's military should be better equipped: Joly

Canada's military should be better equipped: Joly
Speaking at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Joly said there are new challenges on the world stage after Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to start a war against Ukraine.     

Canada's military should be better equipped: Joly