Government of Saskatchewan invests in veterinary programs at USask

The Government of Saskatchewan is supporting veterinary programs at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) by providing $13.2 million to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in 2024-25 — an increase of $667,000.

The provincial government’s commitment to veterinary education, research and clinical service was reaffirmed on April 19 during an announcement at the regional veterinary college on the USask campus.

The funding will support high-quality veterinary medicine education in the province as well as the government’s commitment to continue to support 25 seats for Saskatchewan students in the college’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program.

The additional five seats are designated for students who have background and experience in agriculture and plan to eventually work in rural or mixed animal practice following graduation. This designation will encourage more WCVM graduates to consider careers supporting Saskatchewan’s diverse livestock industry, which is driven by cattle and swine production. The province has the second-largest beef cattle herd in Canada, exporting $207 million worth of live cattle in 2023.

The provincial government’s investment increase comes at a time of immense pressure on the veterinary community. Several factors—including a rapid increase in pet ownership, a rise in veterinary professionals reaching retirement age, and a limited number of graduates each year—have led to a shortage of veterinarians and registered veterinary technologists (RVTs) across Canada. The shortage is especially apparent in rural communities where veterinary clinics provide essential services for livestock producers and the agriculture industry.

Click here to view the Government of Saskatchewan news release.