Government of Saskatchewan ministries, Crown corporations and organizations are implementing contingency plans to minimize the impacts of postal service disruption.

Les ministères, sociétés d’État et organismes du gouvernement de la Saskatchewan mettent en œuvre des plans d’urgence (en anglais) visant à réduire les répercussions de l’interruption du service des postes.

Google Translate Disclaimer

A number of pages on the Government of Saskatchewan's website have been professionally translated in French. These translations are identified by a yellow box in the right or left rail that resembles the link below. The home page for French-language content on this site can be found at:

Renseignements en Français

Where an official translation is not available, Google™ Translate can be used. Google™ Translate is a free online language translation service that can translate text and web pages into different languages. Translations are made available to increase access to Government of Saskatchewan content for populations whose first language is not English.

Software-based translations do not approach the fluency of a native speaker or possess the skill of a professional translator. The translation should not be considered exact, and may include incorrect or offensive language. The Government of Saskatchewan does not warrant the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information translated by this system. Some files or items cannot be translated, including graphs, photos and other file formats such as portable document formats (PDFs).

Any person or entities that rely on information obtained from the system does so at his or her own risk. Government of Saskatchewan is not responsible for any damage or issues that may possibly result from using translated website content. If you have any questions about Google™ Translate, please visit: Google™ Translate FAQs.

Saskatchewan Invests $13.2 Million for Veterinary Medicine Training

Released on April 19, 2024

The Government of Saskatchewan is providing $13.2 million to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in 2024-25, representing a $667,000 increase over last year. This funding will support high-quality veterinary medicine education in the province as well as government's commitment to subsidize 25 training seats for Saskatchewan students. 

"We continue to see a rising demand for veterinary services in the province and they are a key support for our growing economy," Advanced Education Minister Gordon Wyant said. "This is a priority investment for Advanced Education that supports the continued implementation with five new seats, bringing the total now to 25 seats, that are available annually for Saskatchewan students." 

The WCVM is an internationally-recognized centre for veterinary education, research and clinical expertise that is located on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon. Based on an interprovincial agreement with three western provinces, WCVM annually accepts an allotted number of applicants from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia. 

"Western Canada needs more veterinarians and, with support from the provincial government, USask will assist in meeting that need," University of Saskatchewan President Peter Stoicheff said. "The Government of Saskatchewan's increased funding for the WCVM has already helped boost the number of Saskatchewan students enrolled in veterinary medicine. More graduates will improve access to veterinary services in communities across Saskatchewan and the country."

Five of these seats are designated for students who are likely to work in rural or mixed animal practices in the province following graduation. This designation encourages graduates to consider agriculture-focused veterinary careers. Saskatchewan has a diverse livestock industry driven by cattle and hog production and is the second-largest beef cattle herd in Canada, exporting $207 million worth of live cattle in 2023.

"Animal health and welfare is a top priority for farms across the province," Agriculture Minister David Marit said. "By allocating seats for students who are interested in working in rural areas, we ensure the livestock industry have access to the top-quality veterinary services they need closer to home."

"The college's agriculture-focused seats help to ensure that more rural Saskatchewan students with livestock experience will consider veterinary medicine as a future career," Western Canadian Veterinary Students' Association president-elect and current student from North Battleford Garret Beatch said. "If you are already familiar with the agriculture industry and rural practice, it is an easier choice to make." 

A range of initiatives are enhancing the availability of veterinary services in rural Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Loan Forgiveness for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technologists Program forgives up to $20,000 in Saskatchewan student loan debt for graduates who practice in rural and underserved areas. 

For more information about the WCVM, visit: https://wcvm.usask.ca.

-30-

For more information, contact:


Media Relations
Advanced Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0631
Email: ae.media@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-527-5231

Myrna MacDonald
WCVM
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: 306-291-9950
Email: myrna.macdonald@usask.ca

Jamie Shanks
Agriculture
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5155
Email: jamie.shanks2@gov.sk.ca

We need your feedback to improve saskatchewan.ca. Help us improve