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COUNTY OF BRANT, ONT.\u00a0\u2014 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.<\/p>\n
Nine municipalities across southwestern Ontario will receive the funding to enhance emergency preparedness and response as part of the government\u2019s $23.6 million Legacy Oil and Gas Wells Action Plan.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The eight other municipalities receiving funding are:\u00a0the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Norfolk County, Lambton County, Oxford County, Elgin County, Essex County, Haldimand County and the Regional Municipality of Niagara.<\/p>\n
The province has records for approximately 27,000 oil and gas wells, primarily on private land in southwestern Ontario, the release adds.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Abandoned Works Program<\/a>\u00a0provides 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.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n