Province expands funding to improve community safety and emergency preparedness
Essex County among municipalities benefiting from legacy wells program
The Ontario government is investing an additional $7.8 million to help municipalities manage the risks associated with old and inactive oil and gas wells, bringing the province’s total investment for the current year to $10.8 million.
The funding announcement was made Tuesday in Essex County by Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources as part of the province’s broader strategy to strengthen community safety, improve emergency preparedness and address aging energy infrastructure across southwestern Ontario.
The province said the investment will support efforts to safely plug abandoned wells, enhance municipal emergency response capabilities and expand scientific research related to environmental and public safety risks tied to legacy oil and gas infrastructure.
“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.”
Ontario’s oil and gas industry dates back to 1858, when North America’s first commercial oil well was established in Oil Springs. Today, the province maintains records for approximately 27,000 oil and gas wells, most located on private land in southwestern Ontario.
Of those wells, roughly 3,500 remain active and continue producing oil, gas or salt. The remainder are inactive or classified as legacy wells, many of which were plugged decades ago under outdated safety standards and regulations.
Funding directed toward well plugging, municipal equipment and scientific research
Province says investment aims to reduce risks before emergencies occur
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, the $10.8 million investment package includes $6 million for the province’s Abandoned Works Program, which provides financial support to eligible landowners for the safe plugging of high-risk oil and gas wells.
An additional $3 million will go toward the Municipal Legacy Wells Transfer Payment Program. The program helps municipalities acquire specialized emergency equipment, conduct training and strengthen response planning for incidents involving inactive wells.
The remaining $1.8 million will fund scientific research intended to improve the province’s understanding of the environmental and public safety risks associated with aging oil and gas infrastructure.
“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.”
The province noted that many legacy wells pose safety concerns because they were sealed before modern environmental protections and engineering practices were introduced.
Ontario officials said the new funding is part of a broader multi-year strategy to manage legacy energy infrastructure while supporting municipalities responsible for emergency preparedness.
Essex County receives support for emergency preparedness initiatives
Local leaders say funding improves response capabilities
Essex County has been one of the beneficiaries of provincial funding under the Municipal Legacy Wells Transfer Payment Program.
According to the government, the county has received more than $1.2 million over the past three years to purchase communication systems, decontamination equipment and gas detection technology. Funding has also supported emergency management training, public education initiatives and updates to local emergency response plans.
Local officials said the investment strengthens the region’s ability to address potential hazards tied to inactive wells.
“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,” said Hilda MacDonald, Warden, County of Essex. “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.”
The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs also welcomed the province’s additional funding.
“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,” said Jeremy Parkin, Fire Chief and President, Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs. “The OAFC continues to work with Minister Harris and the Government of Ontario on this important issue.”
Anthony Leardi, MPP for Essex, said the funding would help municipalities improve readiness and public safety measures tied to legacy wells.
“This funding will help local municipalities strengthen emergency preparedness and protect Ontario communities from the risks associated with legacy wells,” Leardi said.
Since 2023, Ontario has invested more than $31 million toward managing legacy oil and gas wells. The province also passed the Resource Management and Safety Act, 2025 last year, introducing amendments designed to strengthen government authority in cases involving hazardous wells and operator non-compliance.