BC NDP

VICTORIA – Minister of Agriculture and Lands Steve Thomson refused to answer questions in the Legislature last week in regards to allegations surrounding B.C. veterinarians, say New Democrats.

After a five-year-long legal battle between the B.C. Veterinarian Medical Association, and the B.C. Vets for Justice (an organization of veterinarians with foreign credentials – predominately Indo-Canadian) allegations are surfacing which suggest the B.C. Liberal minister of agriculture may be working against fair treatment for all veterinarians.

The BCVMA has been allegedly involved in unethical behaviour towards the treatment of Veterinarians with foreign credentials. It has been confirmed that they have had secret meetings with both Ministry staff, and Minister Thomson.

The BCVJ is claiming that they are facing discrimination from other veterinarians because they offer lower cost services.

Thomson refused to answer questions about changes he is looking to make in legislation surrounding the Veterinarian Act. Many Indo-Canadian veterinarians are concerned that these proposed changes will negatively affect them and their practice.

Bruce Ralston, MLA for Surrey-Whalley pressed Thomson on potential changes in the legislature this week, “Can the minister give an outline of what kind of changes he's looking to make in the Veterinarians Act?”

“What steps will the minister take to ensure that all the changes are completely fair, as the minister said, and neutral at the end of the day?” continued Jagrup Brar, New Democrat MLA for Surrey-Fleetwood.

Harry Bains MLA for Surrey-Newton pressed, “We need an independent investigation before any changes are made to the current legislation.”

It has also been suggested that the Ministry has been providing financial support to the BCVMA despite the controversy surrounding their legal battle with Indo-Canadian veterinarians.

Bains demanded that the minister come clean on the exact cost of financial support that has been given to the BCVMA, “How much money has the ministry paid to the BCVMA to defend them and their behaviour at the Human Rights Tribunal?”

Burnaby-Edmonds MLA Raj Chouhan expressed the concerns of the Indo-Canadian veterinarians. “Will the minister meet with the Indo-Canadian veterinarians in the near future to listen to their concerns?”

Minister Thomson did not acknowledge the need for an independent investigation despite numerous recommendations. Harry Lali, MLA for Fraser-Nicola questioned Thomson again, “Why is the Ministry refusing to answer questions regarding these meetings?”

Again, Minister Thomson refused to answer questions, and continued to remain silent amidst the controversy.