B.C. MLAs work overtime on paramedics bill

Members of the B.C. legislature had girded themselves for a threatened all-night debate Thursday as New Democratic MLAs tried to slow the passage of a bill forcing striking paramedics back to work. But the mini-filibuster ended at about 7:40 p.m. PT.

So MLAs will be back in the legislature for a rare Friday sitting in an attempt to get the bill into law according to the government's schedule.

The government planned to adjourn debate Thursday but couldn't get a motion to do so past the opposition.

"We will be voting against that, whether it is at 1 in the morning, whether it is at 10 [a.m.], whether it is at 5," said NDP House Leader Mike Farnworth. There was no explanation why the NDP decided to call it a night much earlier.

The debate on Bill 21 is to resume at 9 a.m. Friday and passage is assured because the majority Liberals have enough votes to carry the day.

Paramedics sought wage parity

The Liberals said the legislation is in the interests of public safety. The NDP has called it an assault on paramedics' democratic rights.

The 3,500 paramedics across the province have technically been on strike since April. But as an essential service, they could not stop working, which has blunted their ability to pressure the government.

The legislation would give them a three per cent wage increase.

They had been seeking wage parity with other first-responders, which would have required a seven per cent raise every year for three years.

According to the union, B.C. ambulance paramedics are the lowest-paid in the country, with an average wage of $28 per hour, compared with $31.25 in Calgary and $43.27 in Edmonton.