Ontario to Modernize the Veterinarians Act

There were approximately 15.8 million cats and dogs in Canada in 2020, making it clear that pets are vary important to Canadians, and need to be cared for appropriately.

The Veterinarians Act provides a framework for the licensing of veterinarians and the accreditation of the facilities where veterinary professionals, including registered veterinary technicians, practice. The Act also governs the practice of veterinary medicine in Ontario and sets out the authority framework for the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO), which regulates the veterinary profession and includes public participation in decision making.

About the proposed changes

We are seeking input from the public on the framework for the regulation of veterinary professionals in Ontario.

We are looking for specific feedback on how we can better define animal care activities provided by veterinary professionals and how we can improve accountability and transparency. This includes:

  • the scope of practice for veterinary medicine, such as the procedures, services and processes a licensed veterinarian or other veterinary professional, such as a veterinary technician, is permitted to perform in Ontario. We are also seeking to clarify in the Act the care activities, like massage therapy or animal rehabilitation, that can be provided to animals by individuals other than veterinarians and veterinary technicians.
  • how to improve accountability and transparency to make sure that powers, responsibilities and processes under the Act are clear to the public.
  • how to align oversight of the Ontario veterinary profession with other self-governing regulated professions in the province to ensure that the veterinary profession continues to be managed in the public interest. This could include, for example, altering the composition of the governing council to include a wider range of membership and voices (including academic representatives, additional public members and veterinary technicians).

For full details visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/consultation-veterinarians-act-ontario

How to participate

Send your suggestions and feedback in one of two ways:

  • by email: vetact.omafra@ontario.ca
  • by surface mail:
    Comments on the Modernization of the Regulation of the Veterinary Profession
    Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
    Food Safety and Environmental Policy Branch
    1 Stone Road West, 2nd Floor S.W.
    Guelph, Ontario
    N1G 4Y2

Your feedback will help inform a discussion paper that will be posted on the Regulatory Registry for public consultation in winter 2023. You can provide additional input through the registry at that time.