VICTORIA- New Democrat MLA Charlie Wyse thankfully accepted the shoes from Cowboy Tony White’s horse Suzie Q outside the B.C. Legislature this morning after White arrived at the capitol to raise awareness around sour gas wells and their effects on his community in the Peace Region.

“It was my pleasure to help Tony raise awareness about the dangers of sour gas and the hazardous effects it has on all British Columbians. Sour gas has a negative effect on neighbours, school children, animals and livestock that live near gas wells. It is time for the Campbell government to take action on this issue and stop talking about it,” said Wyse, MLA for Cariboo South.

Under the current law in B.C., sour gas wells can be drilled within 100 metres of homes and schools. 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.

“After traveling nearly 900 kilometres for the children, I’m here to thank Charlie Wyse for hearing the call of our community. Charlie has been the only one to tackle this problem,” said Cowboy Tony White. “I’d like to present Charlie with Suzie Q’s shoes as a symbol of the journey that has been undertaken here and the journey that lies ahead to rectify the situation in the Peace region.”