University of Saskatchewan applauds federal government for supporting Canada's veterinary medicine colleges

Posted December 10, 2002


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 10, 2002 2002-12-04-WCVM

University of Saskatchewan applauds federal government for
supporting Canada's veterinary medicine colleges
.
"The University of Saskatchewan is delighted at today's announcement by the
federal government that they will contribute $113 million towards supporting
the country's four veterinary medical schools," said Peter MacKinnon,
President of the University of Saskatchewan.

The home universities of the four vet med schools have argued that the
infrastructure costs related to these institutions should be a shared by the
federal government since their respective mandates go beyond provincial
boundaries

"These four vet schools play a unique role in Canada's education system and
in the country's food safety infrastructure," MacKinnon said. "It is to the
credit of Mr. Van Clief and his department that they recognize this and are
willing to provide them with the support they need to meet Canadian needs.

The University of Saskatchewan share of the new funding is expected to be
just over $22 million and will go towards upgrading the Western College of
Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) infrastructure.

Veterinary medical schools are accredited by the Council on Education of the
American Veterinary Medical Association, the North American accrediting
body. All four Canadian vet med schools have been at risk of losing their
accreditation with issues related to funding being frequently cited as a
major concern.

"This funding is a major step toward ensuring we maintain accreditation and
fully meet international standards for colleges of veterinary medicine,"
said Dr. Charles Rhodes, acting dean of the WCVM. "Today's announcement
reflects the commitment of the Minister and the federal government to
veterinary medicine and recognizes the critical role the four vet colleges
play in research, training, and innovation related to animal health, food
safety, and human health."

Canada's four veterinary medical schools can be found in Saskatchewan,
Ontario, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island. The U of S Western College of
Veterinary Medicine serves British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and
Manitoba.

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For more information, please contact:

Peter MacKinnon
President
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6612
peter.mackinnon@usask.ca

Charles Rhodes
Acting Dean
WCVM
(613) 230-3033
charles.rhodes@usask.ca


NOTE: Peter MacKinnon will be available for media interviews on this subject
between 1:45 and 2:15 p.m. today.
Please call 966-6612 to arrange an appointment.