April 2026
Clean Up Your Mess Goes Rural
Clean Up Your Mess Goes Rural
Note: this op-ed originally appeared in the Comment section of The Provost News.
Last weekend, I spent the day at the Agri-Day and Trade Show. I was there as a member of the Coalition For Responsible Energy Alberta. I spoke with over 50 local people, including landowners with current oil and gas well problems or past experiences with this problem. I listened. And I learned a lot.
Several of the town residents are not impressed with the misuse of their tax dollars, specifically that tax dollars are going to clean up the wells of companies that have gone bankrupt or that can no longer pay their bills.
A couple of people from reclamation services businesses were eager to learn more about this issue and shared their own stories. Understanding the problems with oil and gas cleanup, they agreed - the oil industry must pay for the mess, which would be good for business and great for jobs!
Someone else from our municipal district of Provost was a huge source of knowledge. They told me that oil and gas companies owe $10 million in taxes over the last decade. $10 Million!! I spoke with workers, town councillors, and even the mayor. It was encouraging to hear from one town councillor that they think the town should learn more about the proposed Mature Asset Strategy, the provincial government's plan to shift the burden of oil and gas well cleanup to taxpayers.
I was very excited to speak to the owner of the Provost News. They will join us in Provost on April 22nd at our Clean Up Your Mess town hall, where we will feature the stories of farmers and landowners dealing with this challenging problem.
Every person I spoke with was engaged and had a personal connection to the oil and gas well cleanup crisis. I emphasized the need to come together to influence the direction we take as a province. One person alone won't make much difference, but many of us speaking with one voice could make a lasting change.
To learn more, join us on April 22 at the Provost and District Recreation and Culture Centre (5113 43 Street) at 6:30 pm. Register here on Eventbrite.
Tylene Appel is a For Our Kids Alberta member who also organizes with the Clean Up Your Mess campaign.
