Veterinarians in British Columbia have until the end of the month to vote on increasing fees they pay to work in the province, a move their regulatory body says is needed to prevent it becoming insolvent.
The College of Veterinarians of British Columbia says it is projected to become insolvent in May 2026 if the fees, including those for private practice registration, don't increase.
The new proposed annual private practice registration fee would jump to $1,900, up from the current fee of $1,395, which the college says was set in 2011.
It says registrants have been asked three times to vote on increasing annual registration fees — in 2012, 2019, and 2023 — but all three were declined.
A post on the college's website explaining the vote says it sustained deficits in the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years, amounting to a cumulative deficit of almost $1.2 million.
Voting started on July 28 and members have until Aug. 29 to cast their ballot online.
"The college is projected to become insolvent in May 2026, at which time veterinary medicine in British Columbia will necessarily cease to be a regulated profession under the college," the online statement says.
"Only the provincial government has the authority to regulate professions or delegate the regulation of a profession. It is unknown to the college what, if any, action the provincial government will take upon the insolvency of the college or in anticipation thereof."
Agriculture and Food Minister Lana Popham said in a statement that the college "is going through a challenging situation, with differing perspectives among veterinarians on how it should best move forward."
Popham's ministry sent a letter to the college advising it to hold the vote and tell members about the financial situation.
In March she issued a ministerial order updating its bylaws to require registered veterinarians pay a one-time $500 fee to the college.
"I am hopeful veterinarians will vote in favour of the proposed change in the upcoming referendum in order to stabilize the college’s finances, at least for the short term, and will have more to say on the situation after the results are announced," Popham said in her statement Wednesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2025
The Canadian Press
