Veterinary Assistance Program

Who is eligible?

• Eligible food, fur-producing and equine animal veterinary practices in underserviced areas of northern and rural Ontario
• Veterinary practices operating within one of the VAP eligible areas named by the program
• Independent contractor veterinarians may be considered eligible if they meet the listed CVO licensing, mobile unit and service delivery criteria
• Veterinary practices that provide care to only one type of food, fur-producing and equine animal may be considered eligible if the specialized care is otherwise unavailable in the identified VAP eligible area and the practice otherwise meets all criteria

Eligible expenses

• Travel costs incurred by veterinary practices for veterinarians, RVTs and veterinary technicians to provide veterinary services to producers and owners
• Continuing education costs, including academic journal subscriptions, transportation, accommodation, meals and non-alcoholic beverages, and conference or continuing education course registration
• Locum assistance costs to arrange substitute veterinary services to fulfil the practice’s servicing obligations
• Telemedicine service rate

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Calls or kilometrage over and above what is approved for funding by the ministry
• Costs in excess of 10 per cent of overall budget for continuing education, locum assistance and telemedicine per-call service rate expenses unless otherwise approved by the ministry
• Travel costs related to attending continuing education courses or conferences, including fuel and entertainment
• Any costs incurred before April 1 or after the following March 31 for the program period covered by the application

Eligible geographic areas

• County of Renfrew; County of Haliburton; Township of Addington Highlands; Township of Carlow/Mayo; Township of Limerick; Township of Wollaston; Township of Georgian Bluffs; Town of South Bruce Peninsula; District Municipality of Muskoka
• Northern Ontario (all areas north of, and including, the districts of Parry Sound and Nipissing)
• Bruce Peninsula
• North Hastings

• Estimated service demand based on two years of historical annual kilometres traveled for non-isolated veterinary practices or two years of call volumes for isolated veterinary practices
• Other estimates of demand may be considered for veterinary practices new to the service area
• The number of producers and owners in the applicable VAP eligible area
• Historical demand for service in the region

• Submit the application to the ministry online through Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON).
• Be registered and have access to TPON to submit the application and receive funding under VAP.

• Successful applicants must enter into a funding agreement with the ministry to its satisfaction.
• No funding disbursements will be made until the funding agreement is executed and all conditions to funding have been satisfied.
• Successful applicants must carry the necessary insurance to provide veterinary care in Ontario and provide proof of insurance.
• Successful applicants must submit six claim reports based on the province’s fiscal year, using the ministry’s reporting mechanism.
• Funding will only be disbursed once the ministry has reviewed and approved the applicable claim reports and all supporting documentation.

• The ministry may modify the list of eligible regions at any time.
• Information provided to the ministry, including application materials, may be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. F. 31.