IOC talks, B.C. jumps

Really? Cancel the Olympics? At this late stage of the game? All because of a possible lack of enough paramedics to be at the Games venues?

Highly unlikely.

There’s so much money tied up in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games that pulling out now is not an option. Certainly, if the International Olympic Committee did pull out, they’d have to return the millions of dollars given to them by the TV networks who won exclusive rights to cover the Games. And that’s only one example.

Even more ludicrous is the B.C. government imposing a contract on its paramedics because the IOC told them to. In fact, if such a crazy demand persuaded this move even a little bit, it’s a disgrace.

Paramedics are on duty to serve the public and only through volunteering their services do they work special events. Just like the RCMP and military personnel on the security details.

But wait, this is the Olympics — the special event — and the one that can’t seem to do anything without imposing itself on public resources.

A province-based sports relay event tried to do that in Parksville once — and was promptly banned for not following local rules.

It is awfully strange that another event, albeit a mighty big one, can tell B.C. legislators to jump, or else, and they all yell “how high?”

The B.C. government mumbled something about the impact of the swine flu as the real reason behind the contract imposition, but few — not even the paramedics themselves — believe it.

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