Prince Edward Island veterinarians are raising concerns about New Brunswick’s decision to phase out public veterinary services, including its provincial lab, warning the move could affect public safety and animal welfare across Atlantic Canada.

The Aquaculture and Fisheries Veterinary Laboratory in Fredericton is the only lab in the region certified to test for diseases such as avian flu, swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease. It is run by the New Brunswick government.

However, the province announced last week that its veterinary field service will be phased out over the next three years and replaced by the private sector. The service includes large-animal veterinarians, equine services and the provincial laboratory.

Dr. Jessie MacQuarrie, a large-animal veterinarian and registrar of the P.E.I. Veterinary Medical Association, said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency requires samples for diseases like avian flu to be sent for testing.

Without the Fredericton lab, she said, those samples would have to be shipped from the Island to Quebec or Ontario.

“It’s not something we would test for often, but in the face of a disease outbreak or a public health issue, it’s a service we need to have,” MacQuarrie said.

“There are other labs in Canada that do offer those tests, but in those situations, time is of the essence. So waiting for those samples to be shipped greater distances can have a negative impact.”

In an emailed statement to CBC News, the CFIA said samples are sent by air or ground, depending on the type and the relevant packaging and shipment requirements. Proper packaging and shipping are essential to preserve the sample’s integrity and diagnostic accuracy.

“The risks associated with longer travel times are minimized when samples are collected, packaged and shipped correctly,” the statement reads.

‘It came out of the blue’: Veterinarians respond to news of services coming to an end

Veterinarians and the union have questions and concerns around the next steps of the Holt government’s plan to phase out provincial vet services.

New Brunswick’s Department of Agriculture told CBC News that there are no immediate changes planned for the lab, which is not set to close for another two years.

The provincial government had said public veterinary services in New Brunswick will end by March 31, 2027. Equine services will end Dec. 31, 2026, and laboratory services will end on or before March 31, 2028.

MacQuarrie said that if the lab services are transferred to the private sector, there are still questions about whether they can continue to meet national standards.

“My understanding is that there are a lot of steps to gain this accreditation, and it can be a multi-year process and a significant financial investment. So, whether or not a private lab is willing to take that on, and whether or not that is going to be in place before the provincial lab is phased out is my concern,” MacQuarrie said.

“To me, it would make more sense to maintain the lab in Fredericton, even if for the reportable disease testing.”