There was 'extreme weather' before the Olympics too

The Campbell government encourages observers not to draw any unreasonably logical conclusions from the timing.

Internal government documents show the B.C. government is drafting legislation to force homeless people into emergency shelters during extreme winter weather, according to the B.C. Civil Liberties Association.

But legislation would will not likely stand up to a Charter of Rights challenge according to BCCLA executive director David Eby, who obtained the government documents and released them to the media.

The B.C. government has not commented publicly on the notes released by Eby, nor confirmed its planning to introduce such a law.

Eby believes the legislation may be just another tool to get homeless people off the street during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver in February.

"The timing is perfect for the Olympic Games," Eby said Monday. "You want to talk about how extreme weather will be defined? Well, typically its defined as three to five days of rain in a row. Well, that's February in Vancouver.

"It will be a great way to get the homeless — force the homeless — off the streets, and get them out of the view of visitors for the Olympic games."