The B.C. government is legislating an end to the seven month paramedic strike as it braces for the impact of the H1N1 influenza, the holiday season and the Olympics.

In announcing the move on Monday, Health Minister Kevin Falcon downplayed the impact of the Olympics on the decision, saying that despite an essential services order that requires full ambulance service, the strike is affecting patient care.

“In the Lower Mainland, the number of ambulances out of service each month has jumped to 150, compared to just 12 per month before the strike began,” Falcon said.

“With the rest of our health care system already operating at full capacity to manage the impact of H1N1, we can’t afford to have the ambulance service operating at less than peak effectiveness.”

John Hosie, regional vice-president of the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. for the central and northern Island CUPE, said the move was “somewhat disappointing but not unexpected.”

He said they don’t like it but they will follow the order while they continue to educate the public on their situation.

He said all the provincial and national unions will be closely watching the situation, which a CUPE BC (Canadian Union of Public Employees) news release said was a first.

“This is the first time in Canadian history a government has forced public employees to accept a collective agreement while the union is in the middle of voting on an offer,” the release said.

B.C.’s 3,600 paramedics and dispatchers are scheduled to complete a mail-in vote today (Nov. 6) on the latest offer from the government, which is very similar to the imposed settlement.

The one year settlement includes a three-per-cent wage increase retroactive to last April when the strike began, which Falcon said is generous in the current economic situation and is in line with other public-sector settlements.

“This kind of move affects all of us who have to work for a living,” Hosie said, adding that it is unfair the government is asking poorly paid paramedics to take a hit for the good of the province, while remembering that the premier voted himself a 54 per cent raise a couple years ago.

The move comes as health officials struggle with lineups at H1N1 vaccination clinics and the virus spreading among health care workers, but Hosie said he and other paramedics have gone to vaccination clinics to get the shot so they can continue providing service, only to be turned away.

Hosie said the paramedics are also unhappy that it appears the legislation came due to pressure to resolve the strike before the Olympics.

He was referring to a leaked memo from Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) director of medical services Dr. Mike Wilkinson to government officials.

It states “VANOC Medical Services requires definitive confirmation by Oct. 1, 2009 that all required ambulance services will be provided as planned.”

It continues, “If we are unable to obtain that guarantee (through either settlement of the strike or legislated “détente” for the Games), then VANOC will be required to initiate alternative contingency plans to avoid cancellation of the Games.”

Hosie mused “so does that mean VANOC is running the government?”

The strike has also prevented 350 paramedic students from completing their training because of a lack of practicums, forcing the Justice Institute of B.C. to cancel paramedic courses.

NDP leader Carole James said the government could have averted the long, bitter dispute by imposing binding arbitration, which she and the paramedics have been requesting. The NDP will oppose the back-to-work legislation and vote against it, James said.

- with files from Tom Fletcher