WHEREAS citizens of the NWT have identified the need for services of qualified veterinarians with northern knowledge and cultural awareness for the care of all domesticated animals;

AND WHEREAS the public service of the Northwest Territories requires the services of veterinarians for the administration of its wildlife management responsibilities;

AND WHEREAS public consultations on amendments to the Dog Act have further emphasized both the scarcity of and increasing need for veterinary service providers;

AND WHEREAS the University of Saskatchewan reserves one seat each year in its Western College of Veterinary Medicine for a candidate from the three territories, and offers sponsorship of the seat at a reduced rate compared to provinces, in recognition of the special need to promote graduation of northern veterinarians;

AND WHEREAS in the past, the Government of the Northwest Territories has budgeted funds to pay the cost of sponsoring a placement for an NWT student the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, but has discontinued this funding;

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to promoting and supporting the advanced education of its long-time residents and to pursuing opportunities to expand the range and quality of professional services available to NWT communities and the public service;

AND WHEREAS opportunities to promote the advancement of NWT candidates in veterinary medicine should be pursued aggressively;

AND WHEREAS funding of $25,000 per year in each of four programming years for a total of $100,000 is required, but can readily be reallocated to other uses in years where candidates are not available for entry into the Veterinary Medicine Program;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that this Legislative Assembly recommends that the

Department of Education, Culture and Employment reinstate the policy of sponsoring a placement in the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine;

AND FURTHER, that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment fund that placement;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the reinstatement of this policy includes a requirement for return of service by the graduate practicing in the Northwest Territories or repaying funds expended on the sponsorship.