ABVMA urges province to restore WCVM funding

All ABVMA members are encouraged to contact their respective MLA and Marlin Schmidt, Minister of Advanced Education, to express their opinion regarding the recent decision by the Government of Alberta to withdraw from the interprovincial funding agreement for WCVM.

By Alberta Veterinary Medical Assocation (ABVMA)

In October 2017, the Ministry of Advanced Education announced their intention to discontinue participation in the interprovincial funding agreement for WCVM.

The ABVMA sent a letter to Minister Schmidt in support of continued participation in the interprovincial funding agreement in March 2017. Following the announcement in October, ABVMA President Dr. Margitta Dziwenka again urged the Minister in a follow-up letter to consider that “in the past four years alone, Alberta’s investment in 80 available seats at WCVM resulted in 97 veterinarians coming to Alberta, 60 per cent of whom went into mixed and large animal practices. Continued funding of seats at WCVM is an investment in Alberta and a vital part of addressing capacity issues that are, as you know, directly linked to animal care and welfare, food safety, and public safety.”

The ABVMA is calling on the province to restore its funding commitment to WCVM, ensuring the veterinary profession in Alberta can meet demand for its essential animal health and welfare services while continuing to serve the public interest.

Key messages members may consider and reference in communicating with the minister and MLAs are here.

ABVMA members may contact Minister Marlin Schmidt at:

ABVMA members are also encouraged to copy their letters to:

The ABVMA will not re-print or redistribute any members’ letters without express written consent, however, tracking member engagement may assist the ABVMA leverage future communications on this important topic.

Reprinted from the ABVMA ENews