FUNDING FOR VETERINARY COLLEGE

Released on September 27, 2002

The four western provinces have signed a new five-year funding agreement

for the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of

Saskatchewan. Since its founding in 1965, the college has operated through

an agreement among the four western provinces. The new agreement adds

$1.75 million to the college's annual operating budget.



"This college is an excellent example of interprovincial co-operation,"

Learning Minister Jim Melenchuk said. "It complements the work of other

colleges at the University of Saskatchewan, and other provinces see good

return on their investment, from practising veterinarians, research into

animal disease, and the development of new pharmaceuticals."



"As the only university in Canada with all of the health science programs,

including veterinary medicine, the University of Saskatchewan is in a

unique position to offer strong programs that feature inter-disciplinarity

and international standards of quality," University of Saskatchewan

President Peter MacKinnon said.



"We welcome this new Interprovincial Agreement, as it reaffirms the

contributions and valuable resource the college provides to all four

western Canadian provinces," Acting Dean of the Veterinary College Dr.

Charles Rhodes said. "Equally important, this new agreement brings much

needed additional financial support to the college."



The spaces in the undergraduate teaching program at the college are

allocated on a quota system: Alberta 20; British Columbia 15; Manitoba 12

and Saskatchewan 20. There is no provincial quota on graduate programs.



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For more information, contact:



John Biss Cindy Paquette

Learning University of Saskatchewan

Regina Saskatoon

Phone: (306) 787-5900 Phone: (306) 966-6640

Cell: (306) 230-4200