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Ontario adds $11M to funding for investigation, recovery following Wheatley explosion

Chatham-Kent fire is shown on the scene of a natural gas explosion in Wheatley, Ont., on August 27, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rob Gurdebeke

Ontario’s minister of natural resources and forestry says the province is putting an additional $11 million toward ongoing costs of a 2021 explosion in Wheatley, Ont., that levelled a building and injured 20 people.

The explosion came weeks after local officials declared two states of emergency and evacuation orders after discovering hydrogen sulphide gas leaks in the area.

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Graydon Smith was in Wheatley today to announce more funding for the municipality of Chatham-Kent for help with emergency management, investigation and community recovery.

The new funding is in addition to more than $27 million the province has so far put toward investigation, recovery and support for businesses and residents.

Smith also previously announced that the province will spend $23.6 million on an action plan to address risks of old wells.

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The province says there are approximately 27,000 oil and gas wells in the province, primarily on private land in southwestern Ontario.

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