Bolded text from the Ontario Chiropractors (not sure why that middle paragraph won’t boldface - it should be)
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is embarking on a modernization of the Veterinarians Act to better define the scope of practice for veterinary medicine. As you know, animal chiropractic is well-established in Ontario’s animal care landscape and is regulated by the College of Chiropractors of Ontario (CCO).
**It is critical that the scope of practice for animal chiropractors be clearly authorized in the modernized Veterinarians Act. If the authorization for chiropractors is not clearly spelled out in the legislation and is instead deferred to a regulation-making process – as some are proposing – there is a risk that the Act might be misinterpreted to give veterinarians and veterinary technicians the exclusive authority to provide animal care, or force animal chiropractors to work under the guidance or authority of a veterinarian. Such a situation would limit animal owners’ access to, and choice of, care providers, and subject chiropractors to an unacceptable regulatory oversight from another profession. **
Through impactful letters, the OCA can demonstrate that animal owners value having options for animal health care, including direct access to animal chiropractic, and that giving a monopoly to veterinarians is not the way to modernize legislation.
As this “modernization” is prompted by the mega vet corporations that are buying up veterinary clinics across the province, we can be certain that they will be targeting all “alternative” care for our horses and pets. Massage therapy, PEMF therapies (of all brands - ie. Bemer), independent equine dentists, salt therapy, red light therapy, etc. will all be on the list to require a veterinarian to provide or supervise.
We know our veterinarians are overworked and in most cases don’t have the time or desire to provide or oversee these types of care. Losing our access to these alternatives may result in poorer health for our animals. I have been using an animal chiropractor for my horses for well over 17 years. In that time the original chiropractor hired another chiropractor, and later split the practice into two by geography (to cut down travel time and increase the number of animals they could treat). I know of several other animal chiropractors who have started practices in the area as well.
Having lost my veterinarian to suicide last year, I know that finding another veterinarian isn’t the easiest thing.
This reworking of what types of care must be provided/overseen by a veterinarian occured in Quebec as well. Certainly the western part of Quebec has an even greater shortage of qualified veterinarians for regular care than does Ontario.
Animal welfare is NOT driving this modernization of the act. Mega Corps greed and desire to eliminate “competition” IS. Please write to Minister Lisa Thompson at minister.omafra@ontario.ca and either copy your MPP or write to them directly. Let’s get this modernization done properly BEFORE we’re fighting passage of the revised act.
I have a copy of the letter the Ontario Chiropractors are asking clients to sign and send. It doesn’t address other alternative care providers, but it’s a start. Let me know if you want a copy.
