College Connection | Fall 2025
Legacy Council
College Connection | Fall 2025
Legacy Council
The Legacy Council met on September 25, 2025. Highlights and replays from policy discussions are available at cvo. org / Council. Legacy Council meets again in November. Council considered the following items at its September meeting.
Language Benchmark
The Legacy Council discussed a report, prepared by the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks( CCLB), which describes the type, scope and composition of the English and French language skills required by the veterinary profession in Ontario. The report supports the establishment of valid, reliable, and fair language levels of English or French required to work as a veterinarian in Ontario; and to map Canadian Language Benchmarks to the College’ s currently accepted language proficiency tests. Following discussion, the Legacy Council approved the proposed benchmark scores of CLB 9 for Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Each Canadian veterinary regulator has been presented with the report and is supportive of adopting these validated language benchmark scores as a national standard.
In 2023, Council approved funding for the language benchmarks project for veterinary medicine in Ontario. Having language benchmarks for the profession enables the College to set appropriate pass marks for all language tests that the College accepts as part of the requirements for licensure. A replay of the discussion is on the College website.
Report on the Matawa First Nation Project
Following discussion, the Legacy Council unanimously approved A New Way Forward, a report from the Advisory Circle looking at the future for access to animal health care within Matawa First Nations. The collaborative project with Matawa First Nations sought to better understand the opportunities to improve veterinary services in both drive-in and fly-in communities.
Moving forward, the College will be a facilitator and convenor of this work alongside the Matawa First Nations Management team with strategies focused on both public health and dog health. Some of the tactics directly impact College materials and resources, while some tactics include the development of new resources for veterinary teams that belong to the profession at large. Further, some tactics are aimed at assisting Matawa to measure and support its work for the future. The College is attentive to appreciating the unique needs of First Nation communities. The Legacy Council approved the recommended objectives and tactics. The Chiefs Council of the Matawa First Nations will also be reviewing the recommendations. A replay of the discussion is on the College website.
Budget 2026
The Legacy Council approved the proposed budget for 2026 for the College and the Transition Council. 2026 is the second year of transition to the new legislation and includes the work of the Transition Council, funded by reserves, and wind-down of the existing Legacy Council, funded by revenue from fees. There is no increase to licensure fees in the 2026 budget. The budget includes a modest surplus. cvo. org / Council
CONTACT THE COLLEGE
Registrar Jan Robinson, Registrar & CEO registarsinbox @ cvo. org
Shilo Tooze, Deputy Registrar stooze @ cvo. org
President Dr. Jessica Retterath, President president @ cvo. org
Transition Council Catherine Knipe, Transition Council Chair TransitionCouncil @ cvo. org
Associate Registrar
Dr. Kim Lambert, Associate Registrar Regulatory Programs klambert @ cvo. org
College Staff Find the staff list & contact information at www. cvo. org / contact-us
Program E-mails inquiries @ cvo. org licensure @ cvo. org accreditation @ cvo. org complaints @ cvo. org qualityassurance @ cvo. org
Public confidence in veterinary regulation cvo. org 3