Mr. Speaker, since its opening in 1947, the department of veterinary medicine of the Université de Montréal, in Saint-Hyacinthe, has made significant advancements and trained many veterinarians. It is hard to believe that the December 9, 2002, deadline for the accreditation of that department is fast approaching.
Very few institutions in Canada provide this professional training. Besides the protection and health of domestic and farm animals, one must recognize that what is at stake ultimately is human health. Think for instance of the role played by these institutions in the pharmaceutical, agri-food and cosmetics industries.
Need I remind the hon. members of all the questions that have been asked about mad cow disease, listeriosis, or the equine infectious anemia outbreak in southern France since last February?
Let us not wait for a serious emergency in Canada to act. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Let us find the financial resources to replace outdated equipment and inadequate infrastructures.
Let us make sure that our veterinary colleges can continue to operate.