College Of Veterinarians Of BC Call Friday Meeting To Discuss Serious Financial Crunch!
Registrar Valerie Osbourne’s resignation comes at a time when the BC Human Right Tribunal, which has been hearing the Indo-Canadian veterinarians’ case of a litany of abuses and systemic discrimination, is coming to an end with a verdict to be given sometime this year or in early 2013. Bhullar says it is the Human Rights case hearings are now the longest in the history of the world with last submission being made on June 30 and he said his group is exhausted and quite troubled by this long fight for justice.
By R. Paul Dhillon
VANCOUVER – “Ding Dong – The Witch Is Dead!” Members of the much abused Indo-Canadian veterinarians group – BC Vets For Justice might be singing this song from the classic film “Wizard of Oz” after learning of the abrupt resignation of College Of Veterinarians Of BC (CVBC) Registrar Valerie Osbourne, who has been a thorn in the back of the Indo-Canadian veterinarians, who have long asked for her resignation.
Dr. Hakam Bhullar, who has been one of the main targets of Osbourne and the College, said he and his group are delighted by her departure, saying they have asked for resignation for years without any success as she was allowed to operate as she pleases.
“This is a definitely a huge victory for us because she has orchestrated much of the systematic discrimination and abuse what we have been forced to endure,” Bhullar said. “We are very happy that she is gone and hopefully now we will see a culture of change where every veterinarian, regardless of their colour and rates they charge, will be treated fairly and we can all prosper as equal members.”
The CVBC announced Osborne’s resignation through email to members, saying that John Brocklebank, Deputy Registrar of the College, has assumed the day-to-day responsibilities.
Osborne, who has presided over much of what has transpired against the Indo-Canadian veterinarians who accuse of her orchestrating what they describe as been nothing less than a witch hunt, gross violation of all rules of the association and pure discrimination, served the College and its predecessor, the British Columbia Veterinary Medical Association (BCVMA), for ten years.
The College said “Osborne leaves on mutually agreed terms and the College has begun the recruitment process to fill the Registrar’s position.
But it’s also clear that Osbourne leaves the College in a financial mess created by numerous legal battles with the Indo-Canadian veterinarians, which are still continuing.
In a Notice to all its members – the College called a special meeting on Friday – which was held at the Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel in Richmond from 7-10 p.m.to update them to the desperate financial situation of the college, which it said was caused by “numerous legal proceedings.”
“We wants to bring registrants up to date on the status of the numerous legal proceedings the College has been dealing with over the past few years and – most importantly – update members on the current state of the College’s finances,” the College said in the Notice.
“As the College is now facing serious financial challenges, largely as a result of complaints and discipline proceedings, and other related legal costs, the Council wishes to provide reigistrants with background information on how these difficulties have arisen and what steps are currently being implemented or proposed, to address these challenges.”
But Bhullar said the College has itself to blame for allowing the vendetta against his group to continue unabatted.
“The College and its various back-room boys have themselves to blame for the financial situation it is in right now because they have tried through all their means to finish us off but we continue to rise like the phenoix.”
Osbourne’s resignation comes at a time when the BC Human Right Tribunal, which has been hearing the Indo-Canadian veterinarians’ case of a litany of abuses and systemic discrimination, is coming to an end with a verdict to be given sometime this year or in early 2013.
Bhullar says it is the Human Rights case hearings are now the longest in the history of the world with last submission being made on June 30 and he said his group is exhausted and quite troubled by this long fight for justice.
The abuse against the Indo-Canadian veterinarians has been historic with Bhullar and his colleagues having to spend nearly a decade fighting the rogues at the former BCVMA, including eight years since they filed the Human Rights case and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars and suffering depression and huge financial losses.
The LINK has been leading the local press in reporting the story on Indo-Canadian vets, who have been battling the British Columbia Veterinary Medical Association (BCVMA) over allegations of systematic racism and discrimination. “Go back to Pakistan”, “Asshole”, “Sociopath”, “Gone are the days when we could go there with a torch and burn it down, a quicker way”, are some of the racist and abusive comments made by the upper echelon of the BCVMA, the BC government appointed Association that is supposed to be fair and balanced towards all of its members.
Chronology of College Of Veterinarians Of BC/BCVMA vs. BC Indo-Canadian Affordable Vets
v April 2002 Valarie Osborne joined as Registar of BCVMA.
v June 25, 2002 (Hand written notes) Meeting between Valarie Osborne and John Cruickshank ( BCMVA President) to discuss how to stop affordable Indo-Canadian Vets.
v (Hand written notes) Meeting between BCVMA President John Cruickshank, Valarie Osborne, Dr. Patrick O’Grady and Dr. Mann, to make strategies such as:
- English Exam
- Unscheduled Inspections, so far in the past 5 years 6 unscheduled inspections against affordable Indo-Canadian vets only.
- Increase Complaints against affordable Indo-Canadian Vets.
v Dr. John Cruickshank and Dr. Patrick O’Grady testified how they discussed about Dr Bhullar’s clinic in different meetings at the Human Rights Hearing.
v December 2003 BCVMA form the committee “English Task Force for the English Exam.
v Committee consisted of Dr. Patrick O’Grady (Chairperson of the Task Force), Dr. Andy Forsyth, Dr. Sekhon, Dr. Hurdle and Valerie Osborne became members.
v March 2004 the Task Force recommended a 16 member panel to listen to the tapes, and come to score the test of spoken English. 55/60
v The tape goes to 2 (two) examiners – they can give a score of 40,50,or 60 out of 60, so you need 1 (one) examiner to give a score of 60/60 and the other gives 50/60 then you can get 55/60.
v May 1, 2004 English Exam was brought in.
v June 10, 2004 Demonstration in front of the BCVMA Office, by the Indo-Canadian Vets, and were confronted by Valarie Osborne, Dr. Twidale (BCVMA President), Dr. Sekhon (CRC Member)
v June 10, 2004 at 4:000 pm charges approved against only Affordable Indo-Canadian Vets, no native vet charged. CRC members Dr. Sekhon, Valerie Osborne did not reuse themselves.
v June 12, 2004 Counsel talks about the demonstration, and were very upset and then also approve the hearings against affordable Indo-Canadian Vets.
v August 2004, Human Rights Case was filed.
v Human Rights Hearing started in 2007, hearing was divided into 2 (two) phases
- English Exam
- Systemic Discrimination including, Disciplinary Hearing.
v October, 30, 2004 Council meeting called Dr. Bhullar “evil mastermind, kill the evil, everybody walk away.
v For the English Exam there was a 60 (sixty) day hearing in the HRT. Where the BCVMA insurance spent over 1 (one) million dollars
v April 15, 2009 the BCVMA wrote on their website that there was no longer a need for the English Exam as we realized in the last 4 (four) years there is no need of the English Exam.
v April 2009, BCVMA insurance that was covering BC Human Rights Case abandoned the BCVMA and declined to provide further coverage.
v April 2009 BCVMA lose their insurance coverage.
- BCVMA Council did not inform the membership until November 2009, that the BCVMA has no insurance.
- Then the BCMVA ask panel members of the Human Rights to give an adjournment as the BCVMA no longer has funds for the Human Rights Tribunal.
- Human Rights panel members gave the BCVMA until April 2010 to raise the funds for the hearing.
v BCVMA called AGM for January 30, 2010
- $400.00 levy put on each membership.
- Valerie Osborne expecting 2,000 from each member in 2010
- So that would be 5 (five) levies of $400.00 each.
v From 2005 up to today only hearings are against affordable low-cost vets.
v 5 (five) vets have received punishment.
- Dr. Sharma License revoked 1 year
- Dr. Jagpal License revoked 90 days
- Dr. Brar License revoked 30 days
- Dr. Bajawa $10,000 fine
- Dr. Bhullar erased from register
v Hearing of Dr. Bhullar started in December 2005 until December 2007.
v 38 days then in front of council for a day.
v Council heard about the case the first time on September 19-20 2009
v Tapes of Valerie Osborne, Dr. Snopek (BCMVA President), Dr. Grognet, Dr. Kirby, and council members were made before September 19 2009.
v September 2005 DVD and Audio tapes of Dr. Ashburner (Chairperson of Conduct Review Committee)
v Tape made by Heather Pendragon, transcript available on www.bcvetsforjustice.ca where Dr. Ashburner says he is trying to for the past 10 years to take Dr. Bhullar’s license. And where the then asked Heather to make a bogus complaint, because we more cases against Dr. Bhullar, the Judge can pick one or two.
v Dr. Ashburner was also recorded saying “Gone are they days when we can take a torch and burn them a quicker way.”
v Dr. Ashburner is still the Chairperson of the CRC.
v Dr. Ashburner in 2005 discussed about putting a levy on members which was done in 2007.
v BCVMA lost insurance in 2007.
v Before they even heard the charges against Dr. Bhullar they already made up their minds to take his license (prejudgment). This is clear from the tapes.
