COUNTY OF BRANT, ONT. — The Ontario government has announced it is investing an additional $4 million to protect communities from the risks of old and inactive oil and gas wells.
Nine municipalities across southwestern Ontario will receive the funding to enhance emergency preparedness and response as part of the government’s $23.6 million Legacy Oil and Gas Wells Action Plan.
The announcement was made in the County of Brant, which is receiving up to $185,000 to support the purchase of new equipment such as a drone for hazardous gas detection, an inflatable emergency shelter and additional specialized gas detectors, a release reads.
The eight other municipalities receiving funding are: the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Norfolk County, Lambton County, Oxford County, Elgin County, Essex County, Haldimand County and the Regional Municipality of Niagara.
The province has records for approximately 27,000 oil and gas wells, primarily on private land in southwestern Ontario, the release adds.
Since 2023, Ontario has provided close to $10 million to help municipalities purchase specialized equipment, deliver training programs, collaborate across municipal borders and enhance emergency response capacity.
The Abandoned Works Program provides financial help to eligible landowners to support the plugging of oil and gas wells that are a high risk to public safety or the environment. To date, the province has invested $36.4 million to plug 454 wells across Ontario.
