Extraordinary Business

1) The Canadian Veterinary Reserve

Inviting You to Join The Canadian Veterinary Reserve!

The Canadian Veterinary Reserve (CVR) is a volunteer membership of over 400 veterinarians who are "on call" to respond to large-scale emergencies affecting animals in Canada (including animal disease outbreaks; natural and manmade disasters). The CVR is activated at the request of federal/provincial/territorial governments and CVR members are paid for their services while deployed in an emergency response*.

Wanted: 50 veterinarians from across Canada with large and mixed animal practice experience!

The CVR, in partnership with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), is currently looking for the specific expertise of veterinarians in large animal and mixed animal practices, with a particular focus on food animals. As a veterinarian, you have specific knowledge and skills to respond to disease outbreaks affecting food animals. Upon receipt and approval of your application, you will be considered for inclusion in the CVR training sessions that are necessary to prepare you to respond to various types of emergencies, including foreign animal disease response.

How do you apply to become a CVR member?

1. Visit the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association's website at:

http://canadianveterinarians.net/veterinary-reserve.aspx

2. *Review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information,

3. Complete the Canadian Veterinary Reserve Veterinarian Application form, and

4. Mail or fax your application to the CVR before March 31, 2011 to be considered for the next training opportunity (mail and fax information provided below).

Thank you for considering this opportunity!

Sincerely,

Jost am Rhyn

Executive Director

Canadian Veterinary Medical Association

Attention: Canadian Veterinary Reserve

339 Booth Street, Ottawa, ON K1R 7K1

Tel: 613.236.1162, ext. 130 Toll free: 1.800.567.2862 Fax: 613.236.9681

Email: reserve@cvma-acmv.org

2) The cosmetic surgery bylaw was approved by the government of Prince Edward Island September 15, 2010

The text of the bylaw follows:

It is considered unprofessional conduct for a veterinarian in Prince Edward Island to perform cosmetic surgery on any animal. Cosmetic surgery is defined as non-therapeutic surgical procedures (i.e. of no medical benefit) which are performed purely to alter the appearance of an animal. Surgery performed due to injury or for reasons of animal health is not considered to be cosmetic surgery.

The following are examples of cosmetic surgery:

- Tail docking in the canine, equine and bovine species

- Tail nicking and setting in the equine species

- Ear cropping in the canine species.

3) Revenue Tax Guide - Veterinary Clinics

The second installment of the Revenue Tax Guide - Veterinary Clinics has been posted
online http://www.gov.pe.ca/pt/taxandland/index.php3?number=1029935 for consultation. This installment includes the Application of Revenue Tax to Consumables Purchased by Veterinary Clinics.

We would welcome input by your association members.

The consultation process has been valuable to date. I am pleased to report that we did get some feedback and have incorporated clarifications into the first installment as a result. Please thank your members on our behalf.

4) Use of Integrative Therapies Policy Statement

Preamble

The diverse group of medical and health care therapies which are not considered a part of routine veterinary practice are most often referred to as holistic, complementary, alternative, or integrative medicine. These include veterinary: acupuncture, botanical or herbal medicine, chiropractic or manipulative therapy, homeopathy, laser and shock-wave therapy, physiotherapy or massage therapy, and many others. When performed within a context of a valid veterinary-client-patient relationship, these therapies are recognized as being an integral part of veterinary medicine by many national and international veterinary organizations. Nevertheless, there may be uncertainty in the mind of the veterinarian as to the appropriate circumstances for their use, the qualifications of practitioners employing these methods, and how the owner of an animal which might benefit from such treatment can be ethically directed to obtain it.

The following are the recommendations of the PEI Veterinary Medical Association for the responsible use of integrative therapies by its Members.

Guidelines

1) Integrative medicine constitutes the practice of veterinary medicine as defined in the Veterinary Profession Act, section 1(h)i, ii, iii.

2) Only veterinarians have the education and background to evaluate and integrate these less common modalities into a treatment regimen for animals.

3) The various modalities which comprise integrative medicine have differing levels of scientific validity, and each must be considered on its own merits by the veterinarian attending a case for which such therapy may be proposed.

4) Any Member who wishes to use an integrative therapy is responsible for obtaining appropriate training in that modality, and for maintaining their skill and knowledge through discipline-specific continuing education.

5) Veterinarians licensed under the Act are free to provide treatment to their client’s animals in any form required, so long as they have the informed consent of their client. In this instance, informed consent includes description of the possible benefits as well as the potential risks of treatment.

6) Any veterinarian recommending or providing an integrative therapy must ensure that the client is informed of conventional methods of treatment for their animal’s condition.

7) The PEI Veterinary Medical Association does not certify or license either veterinarians or facilities with regard to provision of integrative therapies. Certification of veterinarians is the responsibility of the appropriate professional specialty group for any particular discipline.

8) In the event of a complaint by the animal owner which involves the use of an integrative therapy by a Member, the complaint will be subject to the normal process as described in Section 21 of the Bylaws.

9) Members are directed to observe all parts of Section 25.5.x of the Bylaws with respect to the advertising or public notice of providing integrative medicine. Provision of an integrative therapy is in no way different from any other form of veterinary practice in this regard, and every effort must be made to preserve the dignity of the profession.

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