New Brunswick Farmers need access to public Veterinary and Laboratory care
The New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries (DAAF)’s phase-out of provincial veterinary and laboratory services is shortsighted and damaging to the sector.
The provincial announcement caught industry organizations, commodity groups, and veterinary and laboratory staff by surprise. No farmers, veterinarians, laboratory staff, or other relevant stakeholders were consulted before the province announced they were pulling the plug on these essential services.
The proposed 3-year phase-out has caused considerable panic among farmers. Some provincial veterinary offices received such a massive surge in calls from the public and farmers seeking appointments, medications, and to voice their concerns, that they stopped answering their phones.
Provincial veterinary services provide significant support for large animal medicine, especially for livestock and dairy producers. These cuts come at a time where farmers are still witnessing an increase in demand in local meat following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many butcher shops have moved from seasonal to full-time production. Farmers and livestock producers, particularly in Northern NB, are already reeling from a reduction in agricultural services. These cuts are also deeply discouraging for new entrant farmers wishing to get into the livestock industry at a time when the average farmer is over 56 years-old.
Canada already faces a severe veterinarian shortage, impacting the health and well-being of the veterinary workforce. It is unrealistic to expect private veterinary clinics who already turn away new small animal clients, to extend their services to large animals and livestock. The additional expectation that provincial veterinarians would transition to joining or opening private practices is also extremely unlikely. With the vet shortage and lengths DAAF has gone to secure vets as government employees, we cannot expect these excellent workers to stay in the province.
We fear the cuts to veterinary and laboratory services will also exponentially harm the industry in the event of emergency situations such as animal disease outbreak or climate-related incidents. Access to local veterinary services and laboratories is key to managing animal health emergencies like Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). The Canadian Food Inspection Agency—tasked with managing animal health emergencies—does not have a single lab in the province and relies on private and provincial vets for support. Highly contagious diseases have regional effects and NB cannot expect Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador to assist us if there is a widespread outbreak.
Farmers have some of the highest rates of stress and suicide in Canada. Those who raise livestock do not see their animals as products or crops. They care about the well-being of their animals, and a sick animal is stressful enough without limiting their access to affordable vet services.
Realized net farm income in New Brunswick in 2024 was -1% (farmers share after paying their bills); farmers are in an income crisis and are struggling to survive.
“The elimination of this essential service places an additional financial burden on our producers, who are already struggling to turn a profit. This could be the last straw for some producers, who will likely be forced to close their doors due to the lack of service or because the service has become too expensive,” says Alexis Légère, recently elected NFU-NB President.
The New Brunswick food economy (agriculture, agri-food, beverage, seafood, and fisheries) accounts for the highest percentage of New Brunswick GDP, above forestry and mining and yet receives only fractional departmental funding in comparison to those other industries. Cutting agricultural services is contradictory and counterintuitive to DAAF’s proposed Growth Plan, since increasing New Brunswick’s self-sufficiency and land in production is not possible if we lose more farmers and farms. The trend of cutting agricultural research and services is alarming given how climate change and global conflict are exacerbating food costs and increasing food insecurity. Resourcing small and medium scale farm operations—with key supports like public veterinary and laboratory services—is key to food security and Canadian economic stability.
The NFU-NB is asking the DAAF and the Province of New Brunswick to re-evaluate their decision to phase-out provincial veterinary and laboratory services. We believe budgetary decisions should serve to improve our economy, farmers’ health, and our self-sufficiency. We strongly advocate for an equitable taxation system that would keep more New Brunswick-generated money in the province without increasing the burden on New Brunswick citizens. These kinds of program service cuts cost more to the industry in the long term than the short-term gain to the government budget.
The NFU-NB met with DAAF Minister Pat Finnigan and other department and industry representatives following the announcement, but no satisfactory answers were given to justify the phase-out. We are collecting feedback from members on the impacts of these cuts, and we will meet with Minister Finnigan and DAAF in the weeks ahead. NFU-NB leaders were proud to join other concerned farmers and citizens at a March 31st protest denouncing the loss of provincial veterinary and laboratory services. The NFU-NB will not be silenced. Farmers deserve better.
For more information, please contact:
Suzanne Fournier (Executive Director of NFU-New Brunswick): nfu.nb.office@gmail.com
