Minister’s Order

Whereas the Previous Order, Minister’s Order Number 0008/2023 was issued under section 6.2(1) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act to encourage veterinary graduates to practice on food animals in underserviced areas of Ontario;

And whereas sections 49 and 54 of the Legislation Act, 2006 has the effect of providing the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs with the power to amend, revoke or replace from time to time an order establishing a program under section 6.2 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act;

And whereas there were errors in the French translation of the Previous Order;

And whereas I, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, wish to make amendments to correct the errors.

Now therefore, and pursuant to my authority under section 6.2(1) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act and sections 49 and 54 of the Legislation Act, 2006, I hereby order the following:

Part 1 — Interpretation of this Order

  1. (1) For the purposes of this Order, the following terms will have the following meanings:

    "Order" means this document; and

    "Previous Order" means the Minister’s Order identified as Minister’s Order Number 0008/2023.

    (2) Any capitalized terms not defined within this Order will have the same meaning as set out in the Previous Order.

Part 2 — Amendments to Previous Order

Amendments to recital of Previous Order

  1. First “And whereas” of the Previous Order is revoked and replaced with the following:

"And whereas the government recognizes that access to veterinary services for the health and welfare of food animals is important to strengthen the agri-food sector, support economic growth and ensure an efficient, reliable and responsive food supply."

Amendments to Part I.3 — Purpose of the Program of Previous Order

  1. Section 3 of the Previous Order is revoked and replaced with the following:

    3. The purpose of the Program is to improve the overall accessibility to veterinary services in Underserviced Areas. The Program seeks to achieve this by offering grants to newly licensed veterinarians who choose to practice at a food animal or mixed animal practice that services food animals in Underserviced Areas of Ontario. The grants under this Program serve as an incentive for veterinarians to provide their services in regions of Ontario with recognized veterinary access issues to food animal veterinary services.

Amendments to Part V.1 — Eligibility requirements and loss of eligibility of Previous Order

  1. Section 15(1) (a) of the Previous Order is revoked and replaced with the following:
    1. Is a:
      1. Veterinarian, who is:
        1. Licensed to practice in Ontario no more than 5 years prior to the date of application,
        2. Practicing or relocating to practice in an Underserviced Area,
        3. Self-employed or work as a staff veterinarian in a clinic,
        4. Practicing in a full-time capacity and on food animals either as sole focus or as part of a mixed-animal practice, and
        5. Providing in-person service, regular on-farm service and/or emergency on-farm service to an underserviced area; or
      2. Student practicing veterinarian medicine:
        1. At a university accredited to teach veterinarian medicine, and
        2. Is in their final year of study;

This Order comes into force and effect on the date it is signed.

Original signed by:

The Honourable Lisa M. Thompson
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Executed on this 12th day of October, 2023.