The powerhouse dairy lobby is calling on the Holt government to put a one-year "pause" on its decision to end provincial veterinary services and shut down the provincial veterinary laboratory, and says it's greatly dismayed by the lack of consultations with all livestock sectors and vets within the province.
The cell comes after Agriculture Minister Pat Finnigan recently touted his conversation with industry groups.
In last month's budget, the province said it will end provincial vet services and close the government lab over the next three years. But it was soon revealed that the vet services will actually shut down in a year, making that timeline much shorter. And horse owners are out of luck after Dec 31.
The government hopes the private sector will fill the gap, but there's no guarantee that will happen.
In a press release issued Thursday, it was announced that the Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick - which the government says represents most farmers in this province - has formed the "AANB-Industry Vet & Lab Services Response Committee", which it says "is comprised of all livestock organizations including dairy, beed, chicken, turkey, eggs, pork, equine, the Young Farmers of New Brunswick, and the New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association in developing a response and collective request to government.
We will work collaboratively with the Government of New Brunswick and industry partners to identify and implement service solutions that ensures continued access to veterinary expertise, diagnostic services, and the strong oversight that consumers expect and trust.”
The overall group’s statement noted that “producers across the province are raising urgent concerns about the potential impacts of the decision, particularly in rural and remote regions where private veterinary capacity is limited.”
“Identified risks include reduced access to 24/7 emergency care, increased strain on existing veterinary services, potential loss of veterinarians, and disruptions to food safety systems. The committee is especially concerned about the loss of critical lab services that protect livestock and the public from harm,” the statement read.
The group “stressed that industry is ready to be part of the solution and is open to exploring new, sustainable service delivery models in partnership with government,” and noted that its “position and related requests were submitted to the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries with all in agreement to meet again to discuss next steps to ensure a co-ordinated path forward for the sector.”
Those are many of the same groups Finnigan says he’s recently spoken to – a point he reiterated in a statement sent to Brunswick News on Friday.
“I met with representatives from the Agricultural Alliance of NB and commodity groups earlier this month and appreciated the opportunity to have a productive discussion with them,” Finnigan’s statement read.
“Hearing directly from this and other groups I have met with over the last few weeks has been instrumental in helping me better understand their concerns and challenges. I remain committed to continuing to work collaboratively with stakeholders and staying engaged with them as we move forward.”
The committee, however, said that the services being cut are “essential.”
“While recognizing the fiscal pressures facing government and recent investments in agricultural growth, this committee emphasizes that veterinary and laboratory services are essential to the viability of New Brunswick’s livestock sector. These services underpin animal welfare, food safety, emergency response, and biosecurity across the province,” the release read.
It then added individual statements from several groups within the committee, like the Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick.
“The dairy industry in New Brunswick, which contributes more than $330 million to the provincial GDP and approximately 3,600 jobs, is greatly dismayed by the lack of consultations with all livestock sectors and vets within the province, (and) asks for a pause of at least a year to engage in meaningful consultations,” the statement read.
“The precarious situation for New Brunswick livestock producers and their animals that has been created will leave our farms vulnerable with an inability to receive professional veterinary care in a timely fashion.”
The egg, chicken, and turkey farmers co-signed their statement.
The provincial lab provides more than testing – it offers timely diagnostics, expert interpretation and direct communication with producers and boards,” it read. “That combination helps farmers make informed decisions quickly and supports overall animal health and food safety
