VICTORIA — The legislature’s chief champion of safer antifreeze says last-minute moves by the Campbell government fall far short of the measures required to protect pets and the environment.

“I’m pleased the Campbell government has finally woken up to the problem, but today’sScott Fraser announcement is a very small step,” said New Democrat MLA Scott Fraser , who has championed safer antifreeze for almost three years.

“I can’t understand why this government doesn’t simply ban toxic antifreeze, as thousands of British Columbians have demanded.”

Today the government announced a new regulation which mandates that a bittering agent, denatonium benzoate, also known as Bitrex, be added to all antifreeze and engine coolant in the province.

“The problem is that the bitter taste doesn’t last when antifreeze is heated up,” said Fraser. “It’s still a deadly poision that threatens pets and harms the environment.

“If Campbell were serious about solving the problem, he would ban toxic antifreeze altogether and replace it with equally-effective propylene glycol.”

Fraser has introduced legislation to ban toxic antifreeze, and has presented tens of thousands of names on petitions to the legislature.

The B.C. SPCA continues to urge consumers to choose pet-safe propylene glycol anti-freeze.

Scott Fraser

Alberni-Pacific Rim

Scott Fraser was elected as the MLA for Alberni-Pacific Rim on May 12, 2009.