To help address veterinary shortages in rural and northern communities, the Ontario government is investing more than $15 million to establish anew Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program with the University of Guelph and Lakehead University.
The government is also providing grants to new veterinary graduates as an incentive to work in underserviced areas in the province.
Previously announced in the province’s 2023 Budget last month, the new Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program with the University of Guelph and Lakehead University will enrol an additional 20 veterinary students per year, resulting in up to 80 new Doctor of Veterinary Medicine seats in total by 2028. Leveraging the existing University of Guelph Doctor of Veterinary Medicine curriculum, the new DVM program will focus on the recruitment of students from northern, rural and Indigenous communities.
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“This is a historic investment that will help more students get the training and education they need for rewarding careers in veterinary medicine while supporting local labour needs, keeping animals in every corner of the province healthy and supporting the economic growth of local communities,” Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities, said in a release.
The Ontario government is also launching the Veterinary Incentive Program to encourage recent veterinary graduates to practice in underserviced and northern communities. This $900,000 investment over three years will provide program participants with annual grants totaling up to $50,000 conditional on the participant continuing to practice on large animals in these communities.
The new Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program will launch in fall 2024. Students will spend two years at Lakehead University and two years at the University of Guelph.
In November 2022, the government launched consultations to explore opportunities to modernize the Veterinarians Act. A discussion paper on the proposed amendments is posted on the Regulatory Registry for public feedback until May 30, 2023.
