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LEGISLATIVE REFORM
LEGISLATIVE REFORM
BILL 171, ENHANCING PROFESSIONAL CARE FOR ANIMALS ACT, HAS RECEIVED ROYAL ASSENT
AND IS OFFICIALLY LAW IN ONTARIO!
CHANGING THE VETERINARIANS ACT
The OAVT, together with the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO) and the
Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA), have been advocating for an
updated Veterinarians Act, 1996 for many years to better reflect the current
practice of team-based care in veterinary medicine.
In late 2022, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
(OMAFRA) announced the Veterinarians Act, RSO 1990, was open for public
consultation.
On March 7, 2024, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs,
Lisa Thompson, announced the new Veterinary Professionals Act, 2024, under the
Enhancing Professional Care for Animals Act, which will formally recognize RVTs’
growing role in team-based veterinary care. This legislation is a significant,
positive development in the regulation and modernization of veterinary care for
the benefit of animals, RVTs, and the public. On June 6, 2024, the bill received
Royal Assent and is now law in Ontario.
FAQs
What does the Veterinary Professionals Act mean for RVTs?
The Veterinary Professionals Act, 2024 is a positive next step in acknowledging
the evolving role of Registered Veterinary Technicians in the veterinary
profession.
The legislation will enable RVTs to use their education and training to benefit
animals, veterinary teams, and the public. The legislation will also ensure RVTs
have a seat at the Council table where the profession is governed, increasing
representation of RVTs’ interests and concerns.
Under the new legislation, RVT regulation will shift from the OAVT to a new
regulatory college, The College of Veterinary Professionals, regulating
veterinarians and RVTs together. This change will allow the OAVT to focus
exclusively on its mandate as the professional association for RVTs.
What happens now that the Veterinary Professionals Act has passed?
With the passage of the Act, the first step towards creating and implementing a
new regulatory regime for veterinary professionals was the creation of a
Transition Council that will work with the College of Veterinary Professionals
to develop new regulations governing our profession.
The Transition Council was established in August 2024 and consists of the
current legacy College of Veterinarians of Ontario council members, which
includes veterinarians and members of the public, and three RVTs appointed by
the OAVT. For a full list of council members, please click here.
The Transition Council will also be tasked with creating the rules governing the
election of a new council, including RVTs, who will govern the profession moving
forward.
Once the Transition Council has established a new set of regulations for the
profession and rules governing elections, the regulations will be made available
for public comment through the government’s regulatory registry. Once formally
approved by the government, a coming into force date will be set, and the
process for electing the new council will begin. The OAVT expects this process,
including the new regulatory framework, to be complete by 2026*.
When does RVT scope of practice expand under the new Veterinary Professionals
Act?
While the scope of practice for veterinary professionals is defined through an
authorized activities model within the new legislation, it has not yet come into
force. Before RVTs can practice under the new model, regulations must be
developed, reviewed and implemented by the government. These regulations will
outline the specifics of how the authorized activities model applies to RVTs,
DVMs, students and any other professional or person involved in the practice of
veterinary medicine.
The OAVT expects the regulatory development process, including clear guidelines
for RVTs’ defined scope of practice, to be complete by early 2026*.
Until the regulations come into effect, the current Veterinarians Act remains
the legislation that RVTs must adhere to, and the OAVT remains the regulator of
the RVT profession. The OAVT will provide regular updates on this process as it
continues and will advise RVTs of important dates as they become available.
What will happen to the OAVT once the changes in the Veterinary Professionals
Act are implemented?
The OAVT will continue to play a crucial role as the professional association
and voice of RVTs in Ontario. The mandate of the OAVT will shift to focus more
on providing services and education for RVTs, as well as advocating on behalf of
RVTs to the government and other stakeholders.
Like the role of RVTs, the mandate of the OAVT is evolving to serve our members
better.
The OAVT values feedback from our members, and we encourage you to share your
thoughts on how we, as an organization, can best support RVTs moving forward by
emailing us at advocacy@oavt.org.
What is the difference between a professional association and a regulator?
The primary duty of the regulator is to serve and protect the public interest,
governing the practice of RVTs and overseeing the profession. Meanwhile, the
primary role of a professional association is to serve and advocate for their
members with external stakeholders.
When the planned changes to modernize the regulation of veterinary medicine are
implemented, the OAVT will transition from its current dual mandate to a single
mandate organization. The sole purpose of the OAVT will be to act as the
professional association for RVTs, where we will continue to accredit RVT
educational programs in the province while expanding our focus on providing
services for and advocating on behalf of our members.
What is the difference between self-regulation and professional regulation?
In practice, the regulatory process between self-regulation and professional
regulation has one main difference – who the regulator is. In this case, RVTs
are currently self-regulated by the OAVT, but once the Veterinary Professionals
Act is implemented, RVTs will be moving to professional regulation held by the
new College of Veterinary Professionals. The new College of Veterinary
Professionals has the authority to regulate both RVTs and veterinarians with
oversight from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (formerly
OMAFRA).
In principle, the difference between self-regulation and professional regulation
is a significant increase in the recognition of a given profession. Professional
regulation indicates the growth of a profession from one that was not considered
on par with others who are professionally regulated to one seen as deserving of
the same level of standing as others. The move from self-regulation to
professional regulation is a very positive sign in the growth of a profession.
How will regulations be decided?
Regulations will be determined in ongoing discussions and partnership between
the College of Veterinarians, the Government of Ontario and the professionals
who work every day in our industry, including RVTs. The OAVT understands that it
is critical for the voice of RVTs to be heard throughout this process and will
ensure that you are provided with opportunities to voice your opinions and
concerns.
Once draft regulations have been developed, they will be posted online for
comment, and the OAVT will make a formal submission outlining our position on
the draft proposal. We will be sure to keep our members informed as this process
progresses.
If there are specific regulations you would like to comment on or to see in
place, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at advocacy@oavt.org.
How can RVTs submit feedback to the regulatory development process?
The OAVT wants to know what its members have to say about the upcoming
regulations that will govern the future of our profession. Please click here to
share your feedback.
If you would like to communicate directly with the Council or College, we will
be happy to provide specific direction via email: advocacy@oavt.org
Are RVTs still able to make recommendations on the Veterinary Professionals Act?
No, the Veterinary Professionals Act received Royal Assent on June 6, 2024,
making the Act legally binding within Ontario.
While the opportunity to submit recommendations on the contents of the Act has
passed, RVTs will have many opportunities to discuss and comment on the
development of regulations.
The OAVT wants to know what its members have to say about the upcoming
regulations that will govern the future of our profession. Please click here to
share your feedback.
If you would like to communicate directly with the Council or College, we will
be happy to provide specific direction via email: advocacy@oavt.org
How will the OAVT ensure the RVT voice is heard during this process?
The OAVT is committed to ensuring that the voice of RVTs is heard throughout
this process. The OAVT is in regular contact with our partners at the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, ensuring they are aware of any
RVT concerns. We also regularly engage with our partners at the College of
Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO) and Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA)
to ensure we coordinate our efforts wherever possible.
The OAVT will provide regular updates to RVTs about any ongoing work and create
opportunities for RVTs to share their thoughts and feelings throughout this
process. We encourage open communication and invite you to contact us at
advocacy@oavt.org if you have any questions or would like to discuss further.
When will RVTs become licensed with the College, and how much will it cost?
RVTs will be licensed through the College of Veterinary Professionals of
Ontario, which will be established when the regulations and By-Laws governing
veterinary professionals are in place. The OAVT expects this process to be
complete by early 2026*.
With licensure available through the College, they will also establish costs. A
fee structure will be developed as part of the transition process.
*timelines are an estimate and subject to change
Why Change is Good
The new Veterinary Professionals Act will distinguish for the first time between
RVTs and the other non-credentialled staff who work in veterinary practices.
This change will formalize the one profession, two professionals model that is
already widely in practice among modern veterinary teams. RVTs will finally be
able to practice to the full scope of their training, enabling them to use their
education and training to benefit animals, veterinary teams, and the public. The
legislation will also ensure RVTs have a seat at the Council table where the
profession is governed, increasing representation of RVTs’ interests and
concerns.
And while change is good, we haven’t lost sight of all the hard work and amazing
accomplishments of RVTs who got us to this point. We will continue to recognize
and celebrate our past, while leveraging the platform that has been built to
continue expanding the scope and recognition of our profession into the future.
Get Involved
Along with our partners at the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO) and the
Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA), we will continue to work
alongside the government as regulations are developed.
We also hope you will use your voice to join us throughout this process to
ensure that the government gets this right for RVTs. We want to know what you
have to say about this new legislation and the future of our profession. Please
share your feedback here.
Questions? Email advocacy@oavt.org
Latest News
We will continue to post the latest updates and communications regarding
modernizing veterinary medicine in Ontario here:
* The OAVT has appointed three RVTs to the Transition Council. Read the press
release here.
* The new Veterinary Professionals Act received Royal Assent on June 6, 2024.
Read our press release here.
* The OAVT has been regularly updating its members through email on the
progress of the Veterinary Professionals Act: May 10, April 29, March 28,
March 15, March 7
* The Veterinary Professionals Act under the Enhancing Professional Care of
Animals Act was announced on March 7th. See the OAVT press release.
* The Ontario government has also released a press release and background
information about the new bill. The full bill is available to read here.
* RVT Month 2023 Update from OAVT President Kirsti Clarida, RVT
* Based on member feedback, the OAVT responded to the discussion paper in
Spring 2023. Read it here.
* The OAVT hosted multiple town hall meetings in Spring 2023 to help RVTs learn
more and respond to the discussion paper. See more details here.
* The next phase of the consultation process to modernize the regulation of the
veterinary profession in Ontario is now open. Read more here
* Listen to the February 2023 CVO podcast featuring John Stevens, Chief
Executive Officer of the OVMA and Elise Wickett, OAVT Executive Director and
Registrar discussing legislative reform.
* OMAFRA has announced the Veterinarians Act is now open for public
consultation. Read more here.
* OAVT’s October 20, 2022 update to members
* OAVT 2022 Election Toolkit available here
* OAVT’s May 2022 update to members
* OAVT’s October 23, 2020 update to members
* Check out the OAVT’s updated timeline (2015-2020). This is an update to the
1967-2015 OAVT timeline found here.
Resources for RVTs
Continue to check back for more resources to help you as the OAVT increases its
advocacy efforts.
* The Different Roles of a Regulator, Professional Association and Union
* OAVT Member Advocacy Resources – Advocacy Tips
* OAVT Member Advocacy Resources – Understanding Ontario’s Provincial
Government
* OAVT Member Advocacy Resources – How Government Decisions are Made
ADVOCACY IS…
* Acting or speaking in favour of a cause, idea, or policy
* Attempting to influence outcomes such as public policy and resource
allocation decisions.
* Telling your story to someone in government so that they are compelled to do
(or not to do) something.
For an association like the OAVT, advocacy means building relationships with
members of provincial Parliament (MPPs) and other government decision-makers and
educating them about priorities for RVTs in Ontario.
IN THIS SECTION
* What is an RVT?
* Board of Directors
* History of the OAVT
* Legislative Reform
* OAVT By-Laws
* The OAVT Complaints Process
* Partner with Us
Video: OAVT Executive Director Elise Wickett, MBA, RVT, explains what’s next in
the legislative reform process in this video presentation for both RVTs and DVMs
from the Fall of 2024.
Video: OAVT Executive Director Elise Wickett, MBA, RVT, and OAVT President
Kirsti Clarida, RVT, discuss the legislative reform process and answer questions
in this hour-long town hall meeting from Spring 2023
Podcast Listen to this January 4, 2022 episode of Oculus Insights' Hire the
Smile Podcast, hosted by Dr. Mike Pownall, DVM. In this important episode,
titled "HOW REGISTERED VETERINARY TECHNICIANS CAN HELP SAVE THE VETERINARY
PROFESSION," Dr. Pownall speaks with OAVT President Kirsti Clarida, RVT about
the roles, value and utilization of RVTs. They also touch on the topics of RVT
burnout and setting boundaries.
HOW DO I BECOME AN RVT
Whether you are an Ontario student or internationally trained graduate, learn
about the five steps it takes to become a Registered Veterinary Technician.
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