The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan have allocated $9.06 million CAD to complete renovations to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM) diagnostic facilities at the University of Saskatchewan.

The new funding will be used to renovate the WCVM diagnostics laboratory–the final phase of a much larger infrastructure renewal plan that began in 2004. These renovations will ensure that Saskatchewan producers, veterinarians, and researchers have access to up-to-date animal diagnostics services meeting the highest biosafety standards.

Construction is expected to start this summer, with project completion slated for December 2010.

The federal and provincial governments’ support will help to ensure that the WCVM plays a leading role in animal and public health and food safety, not just in the four western provinces but on national and international levels, said University of Saskatchewan President Peter MacKinnon