Province to remain responsible for lab procedures
Hartland-based Carleton AgriSolutions announced this week that it will take over the delivery of veterinary care services to New Brunswick farmers next year.
“We are a locally owned company with deep roots in Carleton County,” said company Vice President of Sales and Marketing Peter Carpenter in a news release dated Sept. 2
“Our company has been meeting the needs of New Brunswick farmers for almost 80 years, and we are proud to take on this new role of collaborating with the vets to provide large-animal veterinary services,” he finished.
Carleton AgriSolutions said it would work closely with the province and existing provincial vets throughout the transition period to ensure minimal impacts to service.
The announcement coincided with a similar one from the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries and the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.
“Following an extensive feasibility study, the government will maintain provincial veterinary and foreign animal disease laboratory services while providing a program to help eligible farmers during the transition of the provincial large-animal veterinary service to the private sector,” said the government.
This walks back their initial plan to phase laboratory services into private-sector care.
To support the transition, the government has said they will invest up to $1.2 million in the New Brunswick Veterinary Services Assistance Program. The new program will provide financial assistance for travel costs associated with eligible veterinary services to food and fur producers. The focus is on supporting rural and underserved regions of the province, where significant travel is often required for veterinary practitioners.
Full details of the plan are expected to be made available by April 1.
The joint announcements are being well received by those in agriculture, with many feeling optimistic about the future.
“There’s the potential that the services offered could be greatly improved than they were in the past,” said Danielle Connell, President of the Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick
She went on to say that Carleton AgriSolutions was a trusted name in the community and that knowing they would take over vet services gave many confidence.
“They [also] want an industry advisory committee stood up, [with] … all groups of livestock represented on the committee and they want to meet … every four months,” said Connell hopefully.
Provincial Conservatives are also welcoming the news.
“The path forward will not be ‘seamless’ as the Holt agriculture minister promised, but we can take hope this issue has been taken out of the totally incompetent hands of the Premier and her minister and now rests with professional, dedicated and skilled people. “ said Tammy Scott-Wallace, Progressive Conservative critic for Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries.
“Working directly with vets and the Agricultural Alliance, they hatched a plan to solve a problem they did not create and as Agriculture critic of the Official Opposition I thank and applaud their efforts,” said Scott-Wallace.
