The Ontario government is investing $7.5-million over the next three years to mitigate the risks of old and inactive oil and gas wells.
Nine municipalities, including Chatham-Kent, will benefit from the funding that will be used to enhance emergency preparedness within their communities and prevent emergencies.
A total of $2 million will be dispersed in the first year.
According to a government media release, Ontario currently has 27,000 abandoned wells on record, most located in rural areas. The greatest need for mitigation is found in southwestern Ontario where local geology and naturally occurring petroleum resources can pose risks to public health and safety and the environment.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry administers the Abandoned Works Program, which supports the plugging of old and inactive wells that pose a risk and supplies funding to landowners.
The Wheatley explosion in August 2021 is a case where gas from an old well wreaked havoc on a community, injuring two people. The incident has cost the municipality millions of dollars to manage, leading to countless hours of intervention, as well as numerous evacuations that kept many people out of their homes.
It is unknown how Chatham-Kent will spend their funding allotment as no answer to the question was received as of press time.
