On November 26, 2020, Big Lakes County Council passed the 2021 Interim Budget. Due to constraints on municipal revenues through unpaid property taxes and the lowering of assessment value, Council faced many challenging decisions. One of the difficult choices Council made was not to renew the 2021 Veterinary Service Incorporated (VSI) contract.

VSI has been a program offered by the County for many years. This program intends to ensure residents of Big Lakes County have access to veterinary services. Over the past few years, the main complaint heard by the Agricultural Advisory Committee was that there is limited access to timely veterinary services and the difficulty in retaining local veterinarians.

Furthermore, the County has been informed that the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) branch in High Prairie will be amalgamating with Falher effective April 30, 2021. AFSC would like to ensure residents that this process will have no effect on personal accounts with AFSC, nor will it result in a disruption to client services.

The intention of the Agricultural Advisory Committee and Big Lakes County Council is to work together to find better solutions for our Big Lakes County producers. Therefore, the County, in conjunction with MLA Pat Rehn will host a community public forum once Public Health Guidelines allow. Until then, we welcome your ideas, thoughts, and inputs as we continue to work together towards a new solution for Big Lakes County residents. If you have any ideas, comments or concerns, please email our Assistant Agricultural Fieldman, Kendra Kozdroski, at [email protected]

Contact
Victoria Zahacy, Communications Coordinator
[email protected]
(780) 523 5955

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