Farmers are back at the legislative assembly, protesting the privatization of provincial veterinary services as concerns grow over the province’s plan to phase out key supports.
The Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick (AANB) held a second protest Wednesday morning, following an earlier rally in April.
The demonstrations came in response to the government’s plan to phase out provincial veterinary and laboratory services and transition them to the private sector — a decision announced when the Holt government tabled its 2026-27 budget.
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According to the budget, the cuts are meant to save $4 million annually amid an almost $1.4-billion deficit.
AANB held its first rally in early April, where more than 100 farmers, ranchers and livestock owners gathered in front of the legislative assembly to protest the cuts.
According to other media reports, Wednesday’s rally drew more than 300 people, including producers, veterinarians, and industry partners.
The province is planning to phase out veterinary services by March 31, 2027. For laboratory services, the government has initiated a comprehensive feasibility study to inform next steps, which will be determined between 2027 and 2028.
To provide support for underserved areas, the government is working on creating a private veterinarian registry program, which will support participating private veterinarians by offering reimbursement for kilometres travelled when providing care to clients outside of their regular service areas.
Concerns over impact on workforce
Those in the sector warn the plan could drive veterinarians out of the province.
Mike Pauley is the vice-chair of the Atlantic region for the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, the union that represents the provincial veterinarians. He attended the rally and said New Brunswick will lose veterinarians if they move forward with this plan.
Provincial vets “they don’t want to go private because it costs an enormous amount of money,” he said. “A lot of these people are younger, they are just starting out, and they just want to work. They want to work for the public and for the farmers here and they want to work for the government.”
Most veterinarians have relocated from outside the province, Pauley added. He said that without this job, they would likely consider moving back.
“It would be a huge loss, and I think the government thinking that they would just become privatized here, I think that’s not correct,” he said.
Province plan not transparent enough, says AANB
Industry groups are also raising concerns about how the plan is being developed.
In an interview with Acadia Broadcasting on May 8, AANB president Danielle Connell said the government failed to be transparent with its plans and to seek “meaningful input” from the alliance.
RELATED: N.B. farmers alliance ‘deeply dissatisfied’ with consultation on veterinary service changes
Since then, the alliance has decided to stop participating in proposed monthly meetings until the Department of Agriculture answers its questions honestly.
Opposition motion defeated at legislature
The issue has also been debated in the legislature.
More recently, the Liberal government defeated an opposition motion tabled by Progressive Conservative MLA Tammy Scott-Wallace.
RELATED: Conservatives put agriculture minister on blast for vet cuts
In the motion on May 14, Scott-Wallace asked the government to have a “true, sincere conversation with veterinarians, farmers and lab experts” and to develop a cost-recovery model to cover the $4-million shortfall and stabilize these services for the long haul.
However, the motion was defeated by a vote of 24-16, with all Progressive Conservative and Green MLAs present voting in favour and all Liberals present voting against.
Rally turnout increases pressure
In a press release Wednesday, AANB said the strong provincewide turnout proved that New Brunswickers want transparency, proper planning, and workable solutions before any major changes are made to veterinary and laboratory services.
“This is not only an agricultural issue, but also a public interest issue that affect families, communities, businesses, and the future resilience of our province,” wrote Connell in the press release.
“We will continue to advocate, now and into the future for positive change that protects essential services and delivers a clear, workable path forward for New Brunswick.”
