Province Investing $280,000 to Help Keep Local Communities Safe
“Abandoned oil and gas wells continue to pose a risk to the environment and our local communities.” – Rob Foster, Regional Councillor for Lincoln.
A News Release from the Consitituency Office of Niagara West Conservative MPP Sam Oosterhoff
Posted February 7th, 2024 on Niagara At Large
BEAMSVILLE – The Ontario government is investing $280,000 to help protect communities in the Regional Municipality of Niagara from the challenges associated with old and inactive oil and gas wells. The funding will be used to purchase equipment to support emergency response and provide additional health and safety training to staff.
Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West (second from right), joins Jim Bradley, Chair of the Regional Municipality of Niagara, along with Rob Foster, Lincoln Regional Councillor (left), and Sandra Easton, Mayor of the Town of Lincoln, at a gas well pump jack in
“There are several old and inactive oil and gas wells across Niagara, especially in the Southern part of the Region,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.
“This funding will help protect our local environment, manage risks associated with abandoned wells and help keep communities safe.”
“On behalf of Regional Council, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the provincial government for their investment of $280,000 to assist in safeguarding our environment from the impacts of inactive oil and gas wells,” said Jim Bradley, Chair of the Regional Municipality of Niagara.
“This funding is a testament to the government’s commitment to environmental stewardship and the protection of our natural resources. We commend the provincial government for their proactive approach to addressing environmental challenges, and we look forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to implement effective solutions.”
Town of Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton
“On behalf of Lincoln Council, we applaud the provincial government for making an investment in the health and safety of our communities,” said Sandra Easton, Mayor of the Town of Lincoln.
“Promoting and encouraging public safety is a priority for Council, and we look forward to collaborating with upper levels of government to ensure we are protecting our community and the natural environment.”
“As Chair of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, I welcome this funding which will help protect our local watershed and natural habitat,” said Rob Foster, Regional Councillor for Lincoln.
“Abandoned oil and gas wells continue to pose a risk to the environment and our local communities.”
Ontario is investing $7.5 million over three years to help municipalities in their efforts to reduce risks associated with old oil and gas wells and enhance emergency preparedness within their communities. This funding is part of a $23.6 million investment the government is making to manage the risks posed by old oil and gas wells and subsurface gas migration hazards to help keep people and communities safe.
“We heard from municipalities across Southern Ontario that they need support in addressing the complex challenges related to the use of petroleum resources in their communities,” said Hon. Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.
“This investment will help municipalities build capacity, increase their understanding of risks, and begin to take specific mitigating actions.”
The government will continue to work collaboratively with and seek input from partners to ensure the funding program remains responsive to municipal needs in future years.
Quick Facts
* Ontario has records for approximately 27,000 oil and gas wells, primarily on private land in Southwestern Ontario.
* The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry administers the Abandoned Works Program, which supports the plugging of inactive oil and gas wells that are at heightened risk to public safety or the environment by providing financial assistance to eligible landowners. To date, the province has spent $29.5 million to plug 415 wells across Ontario.
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