Veterinarians should have been consulted on animal-care rules

Self-regulatory body given no explanation why it was subverted, says Darrell Dalton.

Reading the Dec. 20 op-ed penned by the minister of Service Alberta, I was dismayed by her continued claim of consultation with the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA) prior to the passing of Bill 31, A Better Deal for Consumers and Businesses Act.

Put simply, this claim misrepresents to the public what the process was. There was no consultation with the ABVMA on the proposed amendments to the Veterinary Profession Act (VPA), only a last-minute warning that changes were coming, despite our role as regulatory body for the veterinary profession, which has been fulfilled in exemplary fashion since 1906.

Had there been consultation on the amendments to the VPA, the minister of Service Alberta would have gained meaningful insight into the ABVMA’s function as a regulatory body and professional association. The ABVMA governs the conduct of Alberta veterinarians, protecting the public against practices that fail to uphold the acceptable professional standards we’ve established in consultation with our members and the public.

Consultation would have also informed the minister about the value of self-regulated professions, and how politicians don’t always have, nor should they be expected to have, the depth of knowledge to create legislation pertaining to complex issues in highly specialized professions.

The ABVMA has always taken public concerns seriously, including concerns about informed consent, with wellestablished processes in place to address them. This is the purpose of the complaints process: fielding public concerns, conducting investigations and facilitating the process of peer review. This process, established in the VPA, holds members of our profession accountable in the interest of the public.

I would have welcomed a call from the minister so I might have shared with her the ways we’re already addressing issues she’s heard from a public minority who felt compelled to speak with her about price shock and disclosure, instead of addressing it directly with the ABVMA.

As a non-partisan association, we have always had an excellent relationship with our provincial government, particularly with Labour Minister Christina Gray, whose ministry is responsible for the VPA. She has demonstrated that she values our input and consultation and, in turn, we have felt trusted, respected, and supported by her. We look forward to our continued work with Minister Gray, ensuring Albertans and their animals have access to the highest standard of veterinary care.

Still, there remain several unanswered questions about why the ABVMA was completely subverted in the minister of Service Alberta’s overreaching effort to amend our governing act without our consultation. Our repeated requests for meetings with the minister of Service Alberta have been ignored and we have yet to see the findings of the public consultations that motivated amendments to the VPA in Bill 31. How odd and disappointing that a bill developed in the alleged spirit of consultation and transparency should be structured and shrouded in the opposite.

With the new year upon us, the ABVMA is confident we can move forward from this alarming overreach to focus and build on the positive work we’ve accomplished with the Minister of Labour. Recently, several third-party communications have indicated more changes are coming. While we have still not been consulted, we remain hopeful that our unblemished 111-year history of exemplary self-regulation is considered and that our expertise is consulted, as we continue fulfilling our mandate to protect the public interest and represent our profession, while ensuring veterinarians have the continued support of our elected officials.

The ABVMA has always taken public concerns seriously.