Province Announces Funding to Bring Livestock Veterinarians in North B.C.

The Province announced $1.4 million in a new funding program to help recruit and retain veterinarians in Northern B.C. to give farmers and ranchers more timely and better access to animal care.

“We know that clinics have been really struggling to try and staff up, and adopt to new technologies,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food for the government.

“We worked with industry, with the Cattleman’s Association, and landed on some incentives that we all believe are going to be a good tool in our toolbox. It’s not a silver bullet, but we’re going to see how this investment leads to hopefully positive results.”

The Regional Recruitment and Retention of Veterinary Service Delivery for Food Animals program will give funding to help veterinarian clinics that provide livestock care by recruiting new veterinarians and technologists, as well as funding for equipment and more training opportunities.

This new funding program will give each veterinarian office in the region up to $25,000 maximum. Clinics may use all $25,000 for Recruitment and Service expansions, which include hiring a new veterinarian or veterinarian technologist. Up to $10,000 will be given for strategic planning and partnerships.

The program will distribute funding across different regions of the province, with Northern B.C. — including Williams Lake and Quesnel — as the top priority.

“The area we’re identifying as most critical is from the Cariboo up to the Peace,” says Minister Popham. “Northern Cariboo is where it starts. Clinics in the Southeast, the Okanagan, Thompson, South Cariboo, and Vancouver Island. That’s the second priority. Fraser Valley will be the third priority.”

The program also aims to strengthen local partnerships for improved strategic planning and better care in rural areas. Kevin Boon, general manager of the BC Cattlemen’s Association, notes that these rural regions face the greatest challenges due to higher demand and fewer veterinarians across vast distances.

“That’s one of the things that is a real challenge for our producers,” says Boon. “They have to have a relationship with the vet, and the vet has to know their herd in order to prescribe medications. If we haven’t got those relationships, it really creates an issue for our animal care.

The Cattleman’s Association supports this initiative, calling it a promising “pilot” program that could help address critical needs.

It’s a great tool and it feels like it will help move the needle to get that help where it is needed most.”

Applications for the first priority regions of the program will open on December 17, and be available until January 17. 

“It’s not going to be going to be overnight,” says Minister Popham. “We should hopefully see some hires in half a year from now, if not sooner. There’s got to be some time for us to be able to report any results.”