The B.C. legislature sat last night and debate could continue into the weekend on back-to-work legislation for striking ambulance paramedics.

The Opposition NDP has called the legislation draconian, but Liberals have said it's necessary given the H1N1 pandemic and the approaching holiday season.

Liberal house leader Mike de Jong has said the government intends to pass the legislation in the next few days. The legislature takes a break next week and government doesn't want to wait that long to end the strike, he said.

"The ambulance service is critical to providing emergency health services, and now, more than ever, it needs to be operating at full capacity," he said.

NDP house leader Mike Farnworth, however, has argued that the government should stick to its legislative calendar and debate the bill when the legislature returns after the break.