Who can own a veterinary practice: BC vs Alberta vs Ontario
Key takeaways
- British Columbia has no College share-ownership rule for veterinary corporations. Any licensed veterinarian can be the designated registrant regardless of share count.
- Alberta requires a veterinarian to hold at least 51 percent of voting shares in a veterinary corporation.
- Ontario requires all shareholders of a veterinary professional corporation to be licensed veterinarians.
- How you incorporate depends on where you practise, and moving between provinces may mean restructuring.
Why ownership rules matter for veterinary corporations
Every province sets its own rules for who can own shares in a veterinary professional corporation. The rules are different enough that where you incorporate determines who your shareholders can be and how you structure succession.
Here is the breakdown for the three provinces Ghumans sees most often: British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.
British Columbia: no College share rule, designated registrant
The College of Veterinarians of British Columbia does not require a veterinarian to own a minimum number or percentage of shares. The College’s ownership bylaw is primarily about who acts as the designated registrant, the veterinarian responsible for the practice’s professional conduct.
That means any licensed BC veterinarian can serve as the designated registrant and can incorporate a veterinary practice regardless of whether they hold a majority of the shares.
Alberta: 51 percent voting shares
The Alberta Veterinary Medical Association requires that a veterinarian hold at least 51 percent of the voting shares of a veterinary corporation.
This is a voting-control rule, not a pure ownership rule. The remaining voting shares and any non-voting shares can be held by others, but the veterinarian must control the vote.
Ontario: all shareholders must be licensed
The College of Veterinarians of Ontario takes the strictest approach. Every person who holds shares in a veterinary professional corporation must be a licensed member of the College. No family investors. No silent partners. No non-veterinarian shareholders at all.
| Province | Share rule | Non-vet shareholders |
|---|---|---|
| BC | No College share minimum | Permitted with designated registrant |
| Alberta | Vet holds >= 51% voting | May hold non-voting or minority voting |
| Ontario | All shareholders licensed | Not permitted |
What this means for multi-province practices
If you own practices in more than one province, you may need separate corporate structures for each. A single corporation with shareholders that works in Ontario will not work in Alberta, and the Alberta rule gives less flexibility than BC.
Why this matters: ownership structure is not something you fix quickly. Choosing the wrong province’s rules to structure around can limit your exit options and income-splitting room for years.
Frequently asked questions
Can a non-veterinarian hold shares in a BC veterinary corporation?
Yes. BC does not have a College share-ownership bylaw. A non-veterinarian can hold shares as long as a designated registrant, a licensed veterinarian, is responsible for professional conduct.
Can a family member be a shareholder in an Alberta veterinary corporation?
Yes, as long as the veterinarian holds at least 51 percent of voting shares. Family can hold the remaining voting shares or non-voting shares.
Does Ontario allow any non-veterinarian shareholders at all?
No. Every shareholder in an Ontario veterinary professional corporation must be a licensed member of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario.
If I move from BC to Ontario, can I keep my BC corporate structure?
You would need to restructure. A BC veterinary corporation that includes non-veterinarian shareholders would not meet Ontario’s all-licensed requirement.
What is a designated registrant?
The designated registrant is the veterinarian registered with the College who takes responsibility for the professional conduct of the practice. BC’s rules focus on this role rather than share ownership.
Talk to us about your corporate structure at ghumans.ca/veterinary.
General information only. Talk to us about your situation.