The provincial government is making more subsidized seats available for NL students at the Atlantic Veterinary College in PEI.
For years, local clinics have bemoaned a shortage of local vets, and have called for more seats at the vet college to help fill the gap.
Some clinics have had to cut back hours, and in some cases, services, as they grapple with limited staffing.
Last week’s budget includes funding to double the number of subsidized seats at the vet college starting in the 2026-27 academic year.
(Photo: Veterinary Specialty Centre of Newfoundland and Labrador)
Filling vacancies will take time
Local vet Dr. Maggie Brown-Bury says doubling the number of available seats is good news, but will take time to address the current shortage.
“It is a four year program, but down the road it will increase the number of veterinarians who might want to come home to work. Nobody is more likely to come take a job in Newfoundland and Labrador than someone who was born and raised here, so being able to train more Newfoundlanders and Labradorians as veterinarians does increase the number of veterinarians we have in the province.”
