The CVMA.....is it relevant?

This question has been asked of every CVMA council member and will probably continue to be asked well into the future. The question is asked by CVMA members, students, non-members, academic and government veterinarians, and industry representatives among others. The CVMA has a complex role to play in veterinary affairs in Canada, and I believe this makes it hard to easily define our place in the profession. The theory behind the establishment of a national veterinary body was being debated in the late 1800s. At that time, “most veterinarians could not see what a national association could do for them that was not already being accomplished by their provincial association” (1). It took controversy surrounding conscription and other policies of MacKenzie King’s 2nd world war government to unite veterinarians resulting in the establishment of the CVMA by an act of parliament in 1948 (1).

Ultimately it was the provincial veterinary associations that pushed for the establishment of a national veterinary association in Canada. These associations were already regulating veterinary medicine within their jurisdictions. They had provincial bylaws, established the credentials required to practice in any given province and started the discussion on reciprocity of licensure in the 1800s. In contrast, the mission statement of the CVMA states that it is “the national voice for the veterinary profession dedicated to serving and representing the veterinarians of Canada. The Association is committed to excellence within the profession and to the well-being of animals; it promotes public awareness of the contribution of animals and veterinarians to society” (2). That is a very broad mandate, which is open to interpretation.

If we look at the current role of the CVMA, it is clear that many governments and international associations liaise with other national associations, not provincial or regional groups. This is a major role of any national association, a critical one for professions. The global economy increasingly dictates what happens with agricultural trade, animal welfare, and therefore veterinary practice. Consider the implications of preventing horse slaughter in the United States, or the European Union’s (EU) imposition of a lifetime ban on the use of phenylbutazone on any horse entering the human food chain in the EU. These animal welfare issues were precipitated in Canada by regulations occurring outside of our borders. This is not just a Canadian issue.

The closure of live cattle transport from Australia to Indonesia by the Indonesian government caused a massive animal welfare issue with thousands of cattle having no viable and humane alternatives for shipment or slaughter. The Australian Veterinary Association, in tandem with the Australian government, is making progress to re-establish the Indonesian markets (3). These types of issues and the orchestrated responses required could not have been accomplished by regional veterinary associations alone.

More than ever veterinary medicine involves a Web of international interactions. “Disease prevention and control, food security and food safety, animal welfare and availability of medicinal products, have all become global issues that need a global approach. Regardless of all achievements made over the years, international veterinary collaboration is increasingly crucial for the promotion of the health and welfare of animals, and the health and well-being of people” (4).

This does not suggest that the CVMA can or should act in isolation from the provincial veterinary organizations. Collaboration at this level contributes to effective, efficient and strong veterinary leadership in Canada. There are many areas of potential overlap between the mandates of the provincial regulatory bodies and the CVMA. In general, the regulatory bodies are mandated to work for the protection of the public good. The CVMA administers the National Examining Board, is a partner in accrediting Canadian and international veterinary colleges with the AVMA/CVMA-COE designation, has accredited veterinary technician programs in Canada for more than 30 years, and provides continuing education at the CVMA annual conference. All of these functions as well as numerous others directly and indirectly contribute to the protection of the public.

The development of CVMA position statements is another area of important collaboration with the provincial bodies. A position statement is developed when an emerging or controversial issue is identified. These are normally issues of national and potentially international significance (e.g., telemedicine, humane slaughter). The positions are developed with the assistance of expert opinion to reflect the current science, societal expectations, the position of other veterinary organizations, and ultimately the direction veterinary medicine is heading in Canada. Provincial regulatory bylaws may be influenced by or even utilize a CVMA position statement, and it is for this reason that a position may be circulated to provincial regulatory bodies for their input before they are finalized. This national direction may reflect or may be independent of provincial, regional and special interest groups.

A national association also has the ability to collaborate with other large associations to benefit all members. The CVMA is a member of the International Veterinary Officers Coalition, World Veterinary Association, World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and is invited by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to form part of the Canadian delegation to the World Organization for Animal Health. The benefit to CVMA members is manifested in many ways. The intangible, but essential benefit occurs through collaboration and dialogue with these organizations. We all have similar challenges and different strengths. There are tremendous benefits from sitting at the table with these groups. There are also tangible member benefits resulting from these collaborations. For example, the CVMA’s association with the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Animal Hospital Association, WSAVA and other organizations allows us to leverage benefits for our own members. Currently, the Pet Nutrition Alliance and Partners for Healthy Pets tool kits as well as the digital version of Clinicians Briefs are available to CVMA members as a result of these alliances. The compounding cascade poster that is included in this issue of The CVJ is based on the CVMA Compounding Guidelines and has been developed jointly between the CVMA and the Canadian Animal Health Institute. Drug compounding is another example of an issue with national impact that deserves attention. None of these programs cost our members extra fees; they are a direct benefit of membership in your national association — the CVMA.

The next time you question if the CVMA is worthwhile, if it is cost-effective and if it is relevant to your every day practice life, I challenge you to imagine Canadian veterinarians without a strong national voice, without engagement and without a credible international presence.