The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is among nine southwestern Ontario municipalities receiving provincial funding as part of a $4 million investment aimed at protecting communities from the risks posed by old and inactive oil and gas wells.
The funding, announced Dec. 16, 2025, by the Ministry of Natural Resources, is part of Ontario’s $23.6 million Legacy Oil and Gas Wells Action Plan, which focuses on enhancing local emergency preparedness and response to help keep residents and businesses safe.
“Today’s announcement is yet another step our government is taking to help municipalities keep their communities safe from the risks of old and inactive oil and gas wells,” said Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. “This investment is helping us protect Ontario’s communities today, while building a strong, safe and more resilient future.”
Since 2023, the province has provided close to $10 million to municipalities to support emergency preparedness initiatives related to oil and gas risks. According to the province, funding has been used to purchase specialized emergency response equipment, deliver health and safety training, improve public education and awareness, and strengthen collaboration across municipal boundaries.
“This important investment reflects Ontario’s commitment to protect families and communities across Ontario,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response. “Preventing oil and gas related emergencies is critical to ensuring public safety and is a key component of our government’s plan to enhance Ontario’s ability to be safe, practiced and prepared.”
The announcement was made in the County of Brant, which is receiving up to $185,000 to support the purchase of new emergency response equipment, including a drone for hazardous gas detection, an inflatable emergency shelter and additional specialized gas detectors. Along with Chatham-Kent, other municipalities receiving funding include Norfolk County, Lambton County, Oxford County, Elgin County, Essex County, Haldimand County and the Regional Municipality of Niagara.
Ontario’s petroleum industry dates back to 1858, when North America’s first commercial oil well was drilled in Oil Springs. The province has records of approximately 27,000 oil and gas wells, most of them located on private land in southwestern Ontario.
The province says it continues to make progress under the Legacy Oil and Gas Wells Action Plan and will continue working with municipal partners to ensure communities have the tools, training and resources needed to protect public safety.
