Overview

The Veterinary Assistance Program (VAP) provides financial support to eligible food, fur-producing and equine animal veterinary practices in underserviced areas of northern and rural Ontario.

The program helps maintain a viable agri-food industry by providing conditional grants to designated veterinarians, Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs) and veterinary technicians for:

  • travel to food, fur-producing and equine producers and owners
  • continuing education
  • locum assistance (substitute veterinary services)
  • telemedicine

The Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth oversees the program, and veterinary practices can submit applications directly to the ministry for review.

Program eligibility

You are eligible for VAP if you:

  • operate an eligible veterinary practice within one of the following applicable areas:
    • Northern Ontario (all areas north of, and including, the districts of Parry Sound and Nipissing)
    • County of Renfrew
    • County of Haliburton
    • Township of Addington Highlands
    • Township of Carlow/Mayo
    • Township of Limerick
    • Township of Wollaston
    • Township of Georgian Bluffs
    • Town of South Bruce Peninsula
    • District Municipality of Muskoka
  • or can demonstrate that the rural area where you provide veterinary services is underserviced

To be considered a veterinary practice, you must meet all of the following criteria:

  • practice name is registered with the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO)
  • facility is accredited by the CVO
  • director holds a licence issued by the CVO under the Veterinarians Act
  • maintains an accredited food-producing animal mobile throughout the applicable program period
  • all practice veterinarians holds a licence issued by the CVO under the Veterinarians Act
  • all practice technicians are either RVTs or veterinary technicians working under the practice’s licensed veterinarian
  • provides on-site services and on-site emergency care to multiple species of food, fur-producing and equine animals for producers and owners in a VAP eligible area

The ministry may consider a veterinary practice that provides care to only one type of food, fur-producing and equine animal (e.g., fish) as eligible if the specialized form of veterinary care is not otherwise available in the identified VAP eligible area and the veterinary practice otherwise meets all of the eligibility criteria.

The ministry may consider a veterinarian who operates as an independent contractor as eligible if they meet all of the following criteria:

  • hold a licence issued by the CVO under the Veterinarians Act
  • maintain an accredited food-producing animal mobile throughout the applicable program period
  • provide on-site services and on-site emergency care to multiple species of food, fur-producing and equine animals for producers and owners in a VAP eligible area

To be considered an isolated veterinary practice, you must be located north of the 48th parallel.

Eligible food, fur-producing and equine animals include:

  • horses
  • cattle
  • sheep
  • goats
  • swine
  • rabbits
  • poultry
  • bison
  • deer
  • fish
  • honeybees
  • other animals kept in captivity for producing fur, velvet or meat

How to apply

To apply to the program, veterinary practices must submit an application to the ministry.

Interested veterinary practices should contact the ministry to learn more about how they can apply to the program: VAProgram@ontario.ca.

Additional information

Visit the VAP guidelines for details on the program, including eligibility, eligible expenses and the application submission process.