About the Chief Veterinary Officer 

The Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) is responsible for leading work on issues related to animal health and welfare by upholding several Manitoba laws related to these areas. The CVO is also the leader when it comes to animal care, the connection between animal and human care, and how all of those issues connect into the overall strength of Manitoba’s agriculture and agri-processing sectors. 

Manitoba's CVO is Dr. Scott Zaari. 

 


Zaari holds a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Calgary with an emphasis in ecosystem and public health and completed a veterinary internship with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) in Paris.  He also holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and immunology from McGill University. 

Originally from southern Alberta, Zaari began his veterinary career as a mixed animal veterinarian, providing veterinary services for cattle producers.  After leaving Alberta, Zaari has worked internationally as a veterinarian including positions with the OIE in southeast Asia for three years supporting large-scale disease control programs related to foot and mouth disease and rabies.  He joined Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development from his previous position as a clinical and welfare veterinarian at New York’s largest animal shelter, the Animal Care Centers of NYC.  


Programs and Activities  

The CVO leads programs which activities include: 

  • Co-ordinating animal health and animal welfare control measures in the event of an emergency.
  • Protecting the public from animal diseases that can be spread to people.
  • Protecting the health and welfare of animals for economic or intrinsic benefit through the Animal Welfare Program.
  • Supporting disease surveillance, analysis and response capacity with the use of decision support tools, such as premises identification.
  • Aiding in emergency preparedness and response to protect animals and the safety of the food supply.
  • Protecting and advancing animal and public health through diagnostic services provided by the Veterinary Diagnostic Services (VDS) laboratory.
  • Working toward a more broadly holistic One Health  approach that links animal health and welfare, human health and well-being and environmental health.
  • Collaborating with the Council of Chief Veterinary Officers (CCVO) to provide trusted leadership in animal health and welfare for Canadians.

Legislation Regulated by the CVO


Contact us

The Manitoba government provides several services to help livestock producers protect animal health and prevent economic losses on the farm. The Animal Health and Welfare branch, led by the CVO, provides several services and programs to protect animals, food and people with the technical support and expertise of the Animal Health and Welfare Team. 
 

Animal Health and Welfare Team 

The Animal Health and Welfare team works with the public to assess the risks related to emerging animal health and welfare issues. They also collaborate with private veterinarians and industry stakeholders, and participate in provincial and national efforts to advance animal health and welfare issues. The Animal Health and Welfare team engages in veterinary practitioner and producer education and outreach activities to facilitate animal health and welfare improvements in the livestock and poultry industries and to support and strengthen the veterinary infrastructure in Manitoba.

General Inquiry: 
Phone: 204-945-7663 in Winnipeg
Fax: 204-945-4327

Mailing Address:
Agricultural Service Building
545 University Crescent
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5S6                                  

Animal Health and Welfare Team Contact Number Email
Dr. Scott Zaari
Chief Veterinary Officer
204-945-7663 scott.zaari@gov.mb.ca 
Dr. Glen Duizer
Animal Health Surveillance Veterinarian
204-471-4758 glen.duizer@gov.mb.ca
Dr. Dale Douma
Veterinary Public Health Epidemiologist
204-782-2711 dale.douma@gov.mb.ca

Veterinary Diagnostic Services A/Manager
Dr. Lisa Joachim
Animal Welfare Veterinarian
204-794-1591 lisa.joachim@gov.mb.ca

Animal Welfare Veterinarian

Dr. Alexandra Jerao
One Health - Rabies Operations Veterinarian
431-279-0239 alexandra.jerao@gov.mb.ca

Extension Veterinarian