Working With Government
Working together with the government on joint policies and initiatives is essential in advancing our profession. OVMA is pleased to be working so closely with the government on such important issues. Some of the initiatives include:
Animal Welfare:
The new OSPCA Act came into effect on March 1st, 2009. Ontario is the first province in Canada where it is mandatory for veterinarians to report all suspected cases of animal abuse and have the protection in place when they report in good faith. The new Act also provides stricter penalties to individuals who are found guilty of animal abuse, stronger abilities and rights for OSPCA agents to investigate, and clearer understanding of what animal abuse entails. OVMA continues to work with the government and key stakeholders in further developing the new Act through regulations. OVMA will continue to update its members as we make advancements in this initiative.
For a copy of the new OSPCA Act, please visit: http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90o36_e.htm
Hazardous Waste:
Working on a process that will assist Ontario veterinarians to manage and dispose of their hazardous waste properly and safely has been a main focus for OVMA over the past several months. OVMA is looking to develop a “Made for Ontario Veterinarians” approach since veterinarians fall into a unique category when it comes to the types and amounts of hazardous waste they generate.
The Ministry of the Environment has been reviewing hazardous waste obligations across all sectors, including health care. In the past, the Ministry did not have the resources or the mandate to ensure all sectors understand their obligations around hazardous waste, including their ability to enforce compliance. This is soon to change after the Ministry completes its review. OVMA has been working very closely with the government to ensure unrealistic obligations are not put forward, and to find an approach that works for Ontario veterinarians so following through with their obligations is a fairly simple process.
Recently, OVMA issued an on-line survey to its members to get a better sense of how clinics are disposing of their hazardous waste and to gage just how aware they are of the rules and regulations around their obligations. From the results, it is fair to conclude that most clinics are doing something that is not in compliance with government regulations. For the most part, this is because the government does not clearly communicate these obligations to its stakeholders. OVMA is looking to step in to ensure all members are aware of their obligations (including the new ones sure to be implemented after the government review) as well as hopefully have the Made for Ontario Veterinarians approach in place to assist out members. This approach entails working with a waste disposal company that can take the time to work with each clinic individually and deal with much of the administration burden that the government requires. The company would also be able to take ALL the different types of hazardous waste veterinarians generate so they do not have to use multiple companies.
It would also entail working with existing partner who deal with members on a regular basis. We hope our hard work will result in an approach that will make the veterinary requirements easy to follow without breaking the bank.
Livestock Welfare Assessment Training:
In additions to companion animals, animal welfare issues on-farm are important to Ontarians. OVMA has been working with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the OSPCA, CVO and other key stakeholders to develop a training manual for OSPCA agents to better identify potential animal abuse on farm.
The manual is currently being finalized and a “test-run” will be done this summer.
Animal Emergency Preparedness:
In Ontario, all municipalities are required to have an emergency preparedness plan in case of a disaster. However, these plans are not required to include a strategy for pets. This omission has the province feeling uneasy, particularly since past experiences of disasters in North America have shown that people are reluctant to leave dangerous environments/situations without their pet(s). Therefore, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services has partnered with OVMA and other key stakeholders to develop an animal emergency preparedness plan that all municipalities across the province can adopt and implement in their own existing plans for their constituents.
The plan on the provincial level includes volunteering veterinarians, technicians, and support staff receiving essential training in order to be prepared to help with pets during a disaster in any given area in Ontario. An essential component of this plan includes having the necessary equipment, products, medication, etc. in place and the communication vehicles to ensure all the resources are being utilized most effectively and efficiently. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for the provincial animal emergency preparedness plan, please contact OVMA’s Manager of Government & External Relations, Angela Cerovic, at acerovic@ovma.org or 1.800.670.1702 ext. 24 for more information.
Disability Issues:
The Ministry of Community and Social Services is reviewing their Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act to help ensure the province is making Ontario accessible for people with disabilities by the year 2025 through various standards that will break down barriers. OVMA is participating in the government’s consultation process to ensure that the recommended changes are practical in a veterinary setting. The review includes a significant amount of advancements in the following areas:
- Customer Service
- Transportation
- Information and Communications
- Employment
- The Built Environment.
The Customer Services Standard is now law while the other remaining areas are still being developed and/or reviewed. OVMA will assist members and ensure they are compliant with existing and new standards. If you would like to see the recommendations provided to the government from OVMA on each proposed standard, please contact OVMA’s Manager of Government & External Relations, Angela Cerovic, at acerovic@ovma.org or 1.800.670.1702 ext. 24.
Prudent Use of Drugs in Food Producing Animals:
As different levels of government and key stakeholders work on addressing the issue of prudent use of drugs in food producing animals, OVMA continues to push this issue forward. In 2008, OVMA developed an official position statement on Extra-Label Drug Use in Food Producing Animals. We use these principles to discuss our concerns with MPPs and their staff and when addressing this issue with our stakeholders and the parties required to make the important recommended changes.