N.S. commits $50 million to ensure greater access to vet medicine program

A new funding agreement between the province and the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown, P.E.I., will create eight more seats for Nova Scotia students who want to become veterinarians.

Brian Wong, Nova Scotia's minister of advanced education, said the five-year, $50.8-million arrangement with the college at the University of Prince Edward Island will expand the total number of seats available for first-year Nova Scotia students to 24 from 16 beginning this fall.

"We're experiencing a labour market shortage in veterinary medicine," Wong said Wednesday at the Cornwallis Veterinarians clinic in Kentville, N.S., during an announcement about the deal.

"This is vital for Nova Scotia. We're listening to industry, we're listening to vets, we're listening to farmers, and there is a big demand out there as well for domestic animals."

The eight new seats are intended to address a widespread shortage of veterinarians across Nova Scotia, which as a result is contributing to the mental exhaustion of working vets. 

Dr. Laura Wilson, a large-animal vet at Cornwallis Veterinarians and the vice-president of the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association, said the shortage has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"As more people are bringing more pets into their homes or livestock onto their farms, there is an increasing demand for veterinary services," Wilson said at Wednesday's event. "The industry just has not been able to keep up with this increased demand, unfortunately."

The province's Department of Advanced Education has had a funding agreement with the Atlantic Veterinary College, the region's only veterinary college, since 1983. The previous 10-year agreement expired on March 31.

The new investment includes the cost of the reserved seats and some funding for capital improvements. 

Retention initiatives are part of the deal. Nova Scotians admitted to the program will sign a return of service agreement that ensures students return to Nova Scotia to provide three years of veterinary services, Wong said.

Students in their last year of study will also be expected to complete six weeks of their 39-week clinical rotation in Nova Scotia, another initiative to encourage students to come back home.

"They can come into their home community and work with people that are familiar," Wong said. "They can work with farms that are familiar. And our hope is that they'll want to stay in Nova Scotia." 

Wilson said the new investment in the program makes her and the veterinary association more optimistic about the future of veterinary services in the province. 

"We are confident that this new funding agreement will help to improve and protect the well-being of animals, their owners, the environment, and will aid to ensure healthy and safe food supply here in Nova Scotia," said Wilson.