As part of its plan to protect Ontario, the government is investing an additional $7.8 million to protect communities from the risks associated with old and inactive oil and gas wells. The increased funding brings this year's total investment to $10.8 million to help municipalities safely plug more wells and strengthen local emergency preparedness and response efforts.
"Our government is taking action to deal with old oil and gas wells before they become a problem," said Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. "This investment will provide landowners and local leaders with the tools they need to protect their communities, support local jobs and give families greater peace of mind."
This $10.8 million investment includes $6 million for the Abandoned Works Program to safely plug more wells; $3 million for the Municipal Legacy Wells Transfer Payment Program, enabling municipalities to purchase specialized equipment, deliver critical training programs and enhance emergency response to keep communities safe; and $1.8 million for science and research to better understand and mitigate risks posed by oil and gas wells.
"Our government is committed to protecting Ontario by reducing risks before they become emergencies," said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response. "By investing in safe management of legacy oil and gas wells, we are strengthening local preparedness and equipping municipalities with tools they need to respond quickly and effectively - helping keep communities safe today and into the future."
Minister Harris made the announcement in Essex County, which has received more than $1.2 million over the past three years under the Municipal Legacy Wells Transfer Payment Program to purchase communication, decontamination and gas detection equipment, conduct health, safety and emergency management training for staff, develop public awareness and education materials and update emergency response plans.
Since 2023, the government has invested over $31 million to protect people and the environment from the risks associated with legacy oil and gas wells. These investments are part of Ontario's ongoing efforts to address legacy oil and gas infrastructure, strengthen community safety and ensure municipalities have the tools they need to manage potential risks.
Quick Facts
- Ontario's petroleum industry began in 1858 when North America's first commercial oil well was dug at Oil Springs.
- The province has records for approximately 27,000 oil and gas wells, primarily on private land in southwestern Ontario. Of these, approximately 3,500 are active wells currently in operation producing oil, gas or salt. The rest are inactive, old wells or legacy wells.
- Many of the wells present public safety and environmental risks because they were plugged decades ago, when plugging practices were rudimentary or before stringent regulations were in place.
- The Abandoned Works Program provides financial assistance 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 $46 million to plug 471 wells across Ontario.
- Last year, Ontario passed the Resource Management and Safety Act, 2025 which includes amendments to the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act that will strengthen the government's ability to protect public safety and the environment by addressing hazardous oil and gas wells in cases of operator non-compliance.
Quotes
"The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs applauds the investment for mitigating risks associated with oil and gas related issues in Ontario; this investment will help more people safely plug wells on their property and support municipalities in strengthening emergency preparedness and response plans. The OAFC continues to work with Minister Harris and the Government of Ontario on this important issue."
- Jeremy Parkin, Fire Chief and President, Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs
"On behalf of the seven local municipalities of Essex County, I want to express our appreciation to the Province of Ontario for its continued commitment to community safety. We know that legacy oil and gas wells exist in our region, and addressing the risks they pose requires ongoing collaboration, public education, and well-equipped emergency responders. This funding provides our local fire departments and first responders with the specialized tools and training they need to respond effectively and helps keep our residents safe and informed."
- Hilda MacDonald, Warden, County of Essex
"This funding will help local municipalities strengthen emergency preparedness and protect Ontario communities from the risks associated with legacy wells."
- Anthony Leardi, MPP, Essex
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