August 20,2025
RED FM News Desk
Veterinarians in British Columbia have until the end of the month to vote on a proposed fee increase that their regulatory body says is necessary to avoid insolvency.
The College of Veterinarians of B.C. projects it will run out of funds by May 2026 unless registration fees, including those for private practice, are raised. Under the proposal, the annual private practice registration fee would rise to $1,900 from the current $1,395, a rate that has not changed since 2011.
The college says members have previously rejected fee hikes in 2012, 2019, and 2023. However, it reported running deficits in both 2023 and 2024, totaling nearly $1.2 million.
Voting began on July 28 and will close on Aug. 29. In a statement posted online, the college warned that if it becomes insolvent, veterinary medicine in B.C. would no longer be a regulated profession under its authority. Regulation could only continue if the provincial government intervenes or delegates the responsibility, though it is unclear what steps, if any, the government might take.
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