Province offers $50K in incentives for veterinarians to practise in the north

Farmers in northeastern Ontario have been struggling to get consistent veterinary care for their livestock, with an especially acute shortage of veterinarians who treat large animals.

To help, the province announced a new incentive program to encourage new vets to practice in the north, offering $50,000 to those who agree to work in the region.

In Timmins, Haasen Farms has operated in the area for more than 60 years and in that time, owner Eddy Haasen said they have had to learn how to perform some medical procedures on their own.

Haasen said the cattle farm’s only reliable livestock veterinarians are located more than two hours away in Temiskaming Shores -- but only for scheduled care.

“If we have an emergency, we need to trailer an animal to Temiskaming, which sometimes is not an option,” he said.

In Timmins, local veterinarians rarely agree to treat large animals, Haasen said, so they have become used to treating things like calving out of necessity -- and making do with limited service.

“There’s times where we do the best we can and sometimes that’s not enough,” he said.

“Maybe, if a vet had been here, it would have made the difference.”

Seeing the demand for veterinary care across the region, the province has unveiled an incentive program it hopes will see as many 100 new livestock veterinarians practising in northern Ontario and other underserved parts of the province.

Farmers in northeastern Ontario have been struggling to get consistent veterinary care for their livestock, with an especially acute shortage of veterinarians who treat large animals. (Photo from video)

“Northern Ontario wants to expand in agriculture,” said Peter Katona of the Agricultural Adaptation Council.

“They want to expand their herds and so on, so forth. It’s a real limiting factor, not having access to proper veterinary care.”

The council is carrying out the new provincial program, offering $50,000 to any newly qualified veterinarian who agrees to work in underserved areas for at least five years.

Katona said eligible vets must have started practising up to five years from the time they apply.

NEW PROGRAM AT LAKEHEAD

The province will also be funding a new doctor of veterinary medicine program out of Lakehead University, expected to enroll 20 students per year.

“Together, the incentive program and having a place for potential veterinary students to study in the north will be solid encouragement, we believe, to get more people practicing veterinary medicine in the north and underserviced areas,” Katona said.

Haasen is hoping some of those professionals will make their way to Timmins, rather than relying on travelling vets or phone consultations.

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“Nothing beats having somebody on the farm and seeing that animal in person,” he said.

Eligible veterinarians can apply for the incentive program now. The Lakehead University program is expected to launch next fall.