Alberta government expanding seats for veterinary medicine; Opposition not impressed
New investment in faculty of veterinary medicine at the University of Calgary will double the number of seats in the program.
“Rural Alberta relies on highly skilled and knowledgeable veterinary specialists to support the vitality of their businesses. These investments are very important steps in the process of ensuring we have more skilled vets available in our province, while offering students the chance to train for successful careers in this field close to home, said Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education.
Alberta’s agricultural sector relies on healthy animals. Labour forecasts show there is an emerging need for veterinary specialists in the coming years, especially when it comes to livestock and large animals. Alberta’s government is laying the groundwork for the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine to accommodate more students, increasing the existing number of seats in the program by up to 50.
This investment is the latest step towards addressing the shortage of large animal veterinarians in the province. In 2017, Alberta’s government decided not to renew its funding agreement with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan, which provided veterinary medicine education to Alberta students, and approved a plan to transition funding to the University of Calgary’s Veterinary Medicine Program beginning in 2020. This laid the groundwork for a strategy that will grow capacity within the province to make this career path more viable to students by offering it closer to home.
“This announcement marks a historic moment for veterinary medicine, animal care and the future economy of Alberta. The Alberta Veterinary Medical Association thanks the Alberta government for this generational investment that allows critically needed expansion of the world-class veterinary education at the UCVM and helps to address the significant labour gaps facing our veterinary profession. Alberta will be well served by this new and expanded generation of veterinarians,” noted
Dr. Daren Mandrusiak, president, Alberta Veterinary Medical Association.
“Veterinary technologists are integral to veterinary teams delivering services throughout Alberta. A critical shortage of veterinarians affects everyone. This investment offers us hope that the Alberta government is committed to addressing the needs of Alberta animal owners and recognizing the critical role of veterinary education in Alberta,” explained Karen Melnyk, registered veterinary technician and president, Alberta Veterinary Technologist Association.
The Alberta at Work Initiative is directly investing in programs that help get more Albertans back to work while addressing the province’s structural unemployment problem. Advanced Education plays a crucial role in this work, and this investment is one of a number of key programming investments for post-secondary education and training.
Quick facts
• Through Budget 2022, Alberta’s government is investing more than $600 million over three years into
Alberta at Work – a collection of strategic investments to help Albertans develop new skills and grow their careers.
The University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was established in 2005 to meet Alberta’s need for highly skilled veterinary graduates to support rural Alberta, production animal and equine industries, animal and human health research, and public health. Heather Sweet, NDP Critic for Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Economic Development wasn’t as pleased or as optimistic.
“The UCP don’t have a clear plan for our post-secondary schools, or how to attract veterinarians to practise in rural Alberta,” explained Sweet. “I am proud of the work the previous NDP government did to expand vet spaces at the University of Calgary. There is a rural vet shortage right now which is hurting farmers who can not get their livestock seen when they need to. The announcement made today will not immediately address that need.
“The UCP must provide details on how they will directly support Alberta’s agriculture economy and the need for specialized large-animal care. Veterinarians are leaving the practice at higher rates than new ones are graduating. It has become increasingly hard for Albertans to advance their education with higher tuition, higher interest rates on student debt and gutted school budgets affecting the quality of their education. As a result, young people and post-secondary students are leaving the province at record rates… “I am proud of the work the previous NDP government did to expand vet spaces at the University of Calgary. There is a rural vet shortage right now which is hurting farmers who can not get their livestock seen when they need to. The announcement made today will not immediately address that need. The UCP must provide details on how they will directly support Alberta’s agriculture economy and the need for specialized large-animal care.
“Veterinarians are leaving the practice at higher rates than new ones are graduating. It has become increasingly hard for Albertans to advance their education with higher tuition, higher interest rates on student debt and gutted school budgets affecting the quality of their education. As a result, young people and post-secondary students are leaving the province at record rates.”