Editor: In 2019, an all-hazard investigation of well water in Chatham-Kent was undertaken by the Ministry of Health. The Investigation was motivated by complaints of private well water quality being impacted during and following construction of industrial wind turbines. Complaints cited increased turbidity and the presence of very fine black shale sediment, potentially hosting toxic metals that could represent a serious health hazard.
The investigation failed to sample sediment from any water well, leaving open the question of a potential health hazard. In its final report (December 2021), the investigation’s expert panel (on which I served) suggested that further work be carried out to properly sample and test the sediment for potential toxicity. That work was not undertaken by the MOH (Ministry of Health).
In 2023, privately funded sampling and testing of sediment from nine wells demonstrated significant concentrations of metals, including arsenic, barium, lead and others. The municipal council of Chatham-Kent, being made aware of those results, reached out to the MOH to request the necessary work be carried out to determine any health hazard. No response was received from the MOH.
In June, 2025 a petition with 1,400 signatures was presented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by MPP Bobbi Ann Brady. That petition requested that the expert panel’s suggested toxicity studies of sediments be completed, reiterating the municipality’s request.
The punch line: on Dec. 1, 2025 the Minister of Health provided a response to the petition that completely avoids and deflects from the issue at hand. The minister did not refer to the petition’s request for studies of potential toxicity associated with metals-rich sediments in well water. Rather, the minister reminded well owners they should test water for E. coli and total coliforms.
Such testing has absolutely nothing to do with the potential health hazard that motivated the petition. We might refer to the minister’s response as a non-response – effectively political gaslighting.
Ladies and gentlemen, behold your Ontario government decisively turning its back on the plight of its rural residents and the concerns of 1,400 signatories of the petition presented to the Legislative Assembly.
Dr. Keith Benn
Port Lambton
