The Northern Development Minister says the addition of a veterinary school in Thunder Bay will help the whole region.

Greg Rickford says there is a definite need for veterinarians in the Dryden area and Rainy River District.

“The single biggest compromise for the agriculture sector here to thrive has big animal veterinarians,” states Rickford in a recent interview.

“This is a big victory for us.  It will mark the third school in the country to offer veterinary medical programming.”

Rickford adds that he hopes to increase the number of veterinary assistants in the region, because there is also a shortage.

He adds the provincial budget has a number of items that should help northwestern Ontario.

Rickford says the budget includes an increase of 425 million dollars over three years for mental health and substance abuse treatment.

“Programs that were announced in the budget but ones stakeholders were already aware of that were going to come on board, and I think fairly quickly you’ll see a continued investment to the different things I have been working on throughout Kenora-Rainy River.”

Rickford says government is also committing $202 million annually to address homelessness and Indigenous supportive housing.