MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - A locally-spearheaded effort aimed at addressing a pressing and significant shortage of veterinarians in the province has received further support, including from two key industry groups.
Put forward by Dr. Gord Krebs who is a Mountain View County councillor and veterinarian, a resolution now before the Rural Municipalities of Alberta calls for stakeholders to work together to help recruit and retain more veterinarians and veterinary technologists in the province.
The Attraction and Retention of Veterinarians to Rural Veterinary Practice resolution calls, in part, for “increasing then number of Alberta training spaces for veterinarians by doubling the number of University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine Faculty graduates from 50 to 100 per year.”
“Access to local veterinary services for farmers and livestock producers is essential for the sustainability of the primary agriculture industry as well as Alberta’s overall economy,” the resolution’s background document states.
There is currently a shortage of at least 864 veterinarians and veterinary technologists in the province. The shortage is causing significant economic harm to the agricultural industry in the province, Krebs says.
The resolution has already been endorsed by Mountain View County, and recently came before the county’s agricultural services board (ASB) and Didsbury town council.
During the Feb. 14 ASB meeting, board members reviewed the Krebs’ resolution and then passed a motion calling for the resolution to be submitted to the upcoming 2022 Central Region Agricultural Service Board Conference.
As well, the resolution will be sent to the agricultural service board provincial committee for information.
The resolution has also recently received endorsement from Alberta Milk and the Alberta Beef Producers.
In a letter received by the county’s ASB, Alberta Milk’s manager of producer services, said, in part, that, “Alberta Milk wholeheartedly supports the commitment and leadership demonstrated by the rural counties and the Rural Municipalities of Alberta at they begin to address this (shortage) matter.
“The reality of fewer veterinary practices in rural communities means dairy farmers will be hard-pressed to continue to be able to access and have a working relationship with a dairy veterinarian for their herd.”
In a letter received by the ASB, Alberta Beef Producers general manager Brad Dubeau said the resolution “has substantial benefits for the Alberta and Canadian beef industry We are very supportive of graduating additional veterinarians more apt to reside and practise in rural communities and ABP strongly support any government action to rectify the veterinarian shortage across the province with a focus in rural Alberta.”
Meanwhile, during its recent meeting, Didsbury town council reviewed the Krebs’ resolution and then passed a motion directing administration to “explore the opportunity to present a (separate) resolution supporting Krebs’ resolution at the Alberta Municipalities annual convention in September and to create such a resolution for council to review and consider.”
The ASB is made up of county councillors and appointed public members. It advises the county and province on agriculture issues and concerns.
Krebs’ complete resolution is available for viewing on the county’s website.
