VICTORIA- New Democrat MLA Charlie Wyse looks forward to greeting Peace River Cowboy Tony White, a.k.a. "Tony the Rider," at the steps of the Legislature this Friday at 10:00 a.m. White is set to arrive on his horse Suzie-Q, with dog Doug in tow, to ask Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, why he continues to ignore the sour gas problem in his own community.
"The Campbell government has failed the people of the Peace. There is a blatant disregard for local concerns around sour gas. They are essentially saying to the Peace community that big oil and gas companies come before your safety, health and well-being" said MLA Charlie Wyse of Cariboo South.
Sour gas contains a high proportion of hydrogen sulfide, or H2S, which can be lethal, killing a person in an instant after inhalation. Sour gas is known for its strong rotten-egg odor. Standard practice in the industry is to dispose of H2S by burning it on site, also called flaring.
"I look forward to the opportunity tomorrow to thank Mr. Wyse for his unwavering support on this important issue and to the media for their assistance in bringing my message to the rest of British Columbia. I hope to see a lot of my fellow citizens at Legislature tomorrow morning. Gas wells may not be in the back yards of Victoria homes and schools but I would hope that others join me in standing up to say all B.C. children deserve clean air and a safe place to grow up," said Cowboy Tony White.
Under the B.C. Energy Plan, the Campbell government makes no reference to the dangerous gases produced from flaring and the cumulative effect flaring has on community health.