B.C. paramedics have been on strike for eight months, providing only essential emergency services, so it’s no surprise that their bosses at the BC Ambulance Services are urging members of the public to “use ambulance services wisely” and “The shortages are impacting the availability of ambulances on the ground and dispatch capacity.”

But if that is the case, why are they redirecting the only two ambulances available to the Whistler village to the nearby Olympic trials?

Sure, accidents are bound to happen during sporting events, particularly when they involve a combination of ice, blades, and break neck speeds, so ambulance services should be on standby.

But when 20 communities in B.C. are without ambulance services, and rumours are circulating that the provincial government will be legislating paramedics back to work today, the message government is sending is people don’t matter as much as the Olympics, particularly rural residents and emergency service employees.

It’s hard not to put on your conspiracy theorist hat and wonder how much this back to work legislation has to do with keeping up appearances — and services — for the Olympics.