Ontario has over 15,000 abandoned oil and gas wells and while they go largely unnoticed their impact is very real. From the explosion in Wheatley Ontario this past summer alleged to be caused by a leaking well, to contaminating groundwater, to leaking toxic and warming gases into our atmosphere, these abandoned wells represent a looming crisis that threatens both public health and our environment.
We can chart a different path forward, after the explosion in Wheatley I wrote to the Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (MDMNRF) calling on this government to ensure the industry funded clean up of all wells in Ontario by 2030. A plan like this would put Ontarians to work making their communities safer and taking action on the climate crisis.
Join me on Sunday March 27th at the Westdale Theatre for a partial screening of "Orphaned" including an interview with filmmaker Gillian McKercher followed by a community discussion of what to do about Ontario's thousand of abandoned wells and the need for a just transition that creates jobs and grows our green economy.