The Ontario government has stepped up its commitment with $11 million in assisting the municipality of Chatham-Kent in its ongoing journey of emergency management, investigative undertakings, and community resurgence following the tragic Wheatley explosion that shook the region in August 2021.
In a press conference held on Wednesday, Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, stated this funding aims to strengthen the municipality's efforts to recover from the explosion's aftermath and restore the Wheatley community.
"More support is needed to alleviate the financial burden Chatham-Kent continues to face. That's why we are providing additional funding to the municipality as they continue to recover and rebuild the community of Wheatley," said Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.
During the investigation, Ryan Brown, Director of Public Works at Municipality of Chatham-Kent, reported that a single gas well and two water wells were discovered at the explosion site. Additionally, the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office (OFM) report revealed the presence of Hydrogen sulphide and methane gases.
"There is an intent to purchase the 13 properties in the evacuation area. We have reserved the appraisal numbers and have been in touch with the property owners and are talking about moving forward as the sites are more stable now with the work that has been done. But we don't know where the gas is coming from," said Chief Administrative Officer Michael Duben.
"Support is ongoing with several programs, one specifically on houses and one for businesses, the money that we are seeing today within the $11 million," Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Smith emphasized that $8 million is designated for the municipality to address the immediate costs they have already incurred. On the other hand, the $225,000 assigned for the community redevelopment support is aimed at covering expected future recovery expenses, including those associated with task forces working towards revitalization efforts.
