Across Alberta, more than 300,000 aging and inactive oil and gas wells, pipelines, and storage tanks sit on farms, ranches, and even in urban areas. Many of these sites have been inactive for years. Many are leaking.
Aging oil and gas wells can release toxic substances into the air, soil, and groundwater, putting drinking water, livestock, crops, and families at risk. For landowners, these wells can reduce property value, limit how land can be used, and create long-term health concerns. For communities, they represent a growing environmental and financial liability.
Despite this reality, the Alberta government and oil and gas industry leaders are pushing a new plan called the Mature Asset Strategy (MAS). This plan would allow companies to offload older, less profitable wells onto smaller operators. In practice, this means many companies could walk away from their responsibility to clean up the mess they created.
If MAS moves forward, everyday Albertans could be left with toxic wells on their land and taxpayers stuck with a multi-billion-dollar cleanup bill. Instead of holding profitable corporations accountable, the cost would be shifted onto the public.
This is not fair. Oil and gas companies made billions in profits while extracting Alberta’s resources. They should be responsible for safely cleaning up wells, pipelines, and infrastructure when production ends. Polluters should pay not families, farmers, or future generations.
The good news is that it is not too late to stop the MAS plan. There is still a window of opportunity to demand better from our elected officials and ensure the oil and gas sector pays for its own cleanup.
Taking action can be simple and powerful. One easy way to make your voice heard is by sending a postcard to your MLA or premier urging them to stop this multi-billion-dollar giveaway and protect Albertans from being left with the bill.
📬 Send a postcard today and encourage others to do the same:
👉 https://postcards.cleanupyourmess.ca/
There is no time to waste. Everyone deserves clean land, clean water, and a future where corporations are held accountable for the damage they cause.
