Dr. Martine Dubuc is on the board of directors with Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord Canada.
Dr. Martine Dubuc holds a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Montreal and is a member of the Order of Veterinarians of Quebec. Since earning her Doctorate in 1985, she has held various roles and responsibilities.
Dr. Dubuc was appointed Associate Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in January 2017, a position she held until her recent retirement in May 2021. During her tenure, Dr. Dubuc contributed to the development of key policies on climate change, biodiversity and nature conservation, water and air quality, and atmospheric and environmental sciences.
Before joining ECCC, Dr. Dubuc served at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in the role of Vice-President of Science from 2008 to 2017. During this time, she was appointed Canada's Chief Food Safety Officer in September 2012 and Canada's delegate to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in April 2013. Dr. Dubuc was responsible for the overall direction of the Science Branch, including the development, management, and execution of research activities, diagnostic analysis, risk assessments, and surveillance, as well as providing scientific advice across the country. As Vice-President, she was also responsible for overseeing CFIA’s network of 13 laboratories, including the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease (NCFAD), a level 4 containment laboratory in Winnipeg, which provides scientific expertise in the detection and diagnosis of animal diseases and zoonoses.
As Chief Food Safety Officer (CFSO), Dr. Dubuc took on various responsibilities, including collaborating with a broader network of national and international stakeholders to define an integrated strategy for the concept of "One World, One Health," which clearly highlights the interdependence of public health, food safety, animal and plant health, and the environment.
In collaboration with Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, and as Chief Food Safety Officer, Dr. Dubuc played a leading role in managing national and international food safety emergencies and in developing Canada's strategy and plan to combat antimicrobial resistance.
Before joining CFIA, Dr. Dubuc held senior positions within the Government of Quebec, specifically at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food for 17 years. Notably, as Assistant Deputy Minister, she was responsible for developing policies and regulations, managing laboratories in the areas of food inspection and safety, animal health and welfare, and overseeing emergency response measures.
This article explores the diverse and often underrecognized roles of veterinarians within a One Health framework, highlighting how their work in animal health, food safety, wildlife conservation, and climate adaptation strengthens communities, safeguards ecosystems, and supports global health resilience.
This article examines the vital role of veterinarians in immunization and disease prevention, highlighting how VWB’s One Health approach — through vaccination campaigns, CAHW training, and real-time disease surveillance — protects public health, supports farmer livelihoods, and strengthens animal health systems in vulnerable communities.
In remote areas, like the far North, dog bites are more prevalent. This Dog Bite Prevention Week, we're raising awareness about how reading dog body language and improving access to veterinary care can reduce bites—and prevent the spread of diseases like rabies.
