Close X
Monday, November 11, 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

Pandemic stalls B.C. associate physician plan

Pandemic stalls B.C. associate physician plan
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia proposed the new role of associate physician in April 2020 to address the province's health-care needs, allowing doctors who weren't eligible for a full licence to work under physician supervision.    

Pandemic stalls B.C. associate physician plan

B.C.'s minimum wage to go up to $15.65 an hour

B.C.'s minimum wage to go up to $15.65 an hour
The British Columbia government is pushing the minimum wage up to $15.65 an hour, which it says is the highest among the provinces. Labour Minister Harry Bains announced today that the hourly wage will jump by 45 cents starting June 1.

B.C.'s minimum wage to go up to $15.65 an hour

5 Indian students dead in Canada highway accident

5 Indian students dead in Canada highway accident
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have identified them as Jaspinder Singh, 21, Karanpal Singh, 22, Mohit Chouhan, 23, Pawan Kumar, 23, and Harpreet Singh, 24. They were pronounced dead on the scene.

5 Indian students dead in Canada highway accident

Fed study details groups hit hardest by tax system

Fed study details groups hit hardest by tax system
Women were more likely than men to lose out on 60 per cent or more of their extra earnings, which the recently released analysis chalks up to their slightly greater reliance on federal supports.

Fed study details groups hit hardest by tax system

Canadian professor in Ukraine longs for peace

Canadian professor in Ukraine longs for peace
The sirens can go on for 15 minutes, or as long as two hours. One Saturday-night alarm lasted three hours. The sirens go off two or three times a day, but so far, the city has been spared any bombings.

Canadian professor in Ukraine longs for peace

Clocks jump ahead in most of Canada on Sunday

Clocks jump ahead in most of Canada on Sunday
Only Yukon and most of Saskatchewan observe permanent daylight time and won't change their clocks with the rest of Canada early Sunday. B.C. outlined a plan to switch permanently in 2019, but the legislation did not set a date because the province is waiting for Washington, Oregon and California to also approve the change.

Clocks jump ahead in most of Canada on Sunday