The debate rages in Saskatchewan now about if federal money should go directly to oil companies and contractors capable of sealing defunct oil wells abandoned by irresponsible and ancient corporations. Those wells are left in the trust of our politicians, the people who tend to tell us that without oil jobs, Saskatchewan doesn’t amount to much.
https://twitter.com/Rhino_Bob/status/697526260822446080
Tucked away in our piggy bank is about $10 Million dollars, built up since 2007. I guess before then there was no plan to clean things up, or at least make those making the holes, pay for it. Wall’s savings are off by more than a factor of 10, because he wants over $156 Million to get the work done quickly.
Am I opposed to getting over a hundred million from the feds to clean up environmental disasters? Nope. Do I think taxpayers should bear the bulk of the burden? Heck no.
It’s clearly something oil companies both old and new should be doing for the rest of us, because of the reasons Scott lists in his video. Royalties should have been, and should now be paying for this sort of predictable mess. Budgeting of the past very clearly bequeathed this festering inheritance to us, and tough times in oil country are making it apparent just how much the Boomers and the Greatest Generation prepared for now.
Saskboy's Abandoned Stuff 
John, do you remember Big Oil’s pitch for CCS at the Tar Sands? They would pump the captured CO2 under pressure into reservoirs in the Athabasca region. The companies would be responsible for maintaining the sites for 70-years and be liable for leaks during that term. After that all responsibilities would pass to the province and its citizens in perpetuity. What with ordinary seismic activity and the now standard rate of failed well heads, underground CCS storage is a massive disaster waiting to happen. A similar problem arises out of fracking.
Indeed there are big problems ahead for people who want to drink water.
How do you disagree with a millionaire on TV?
Using Twitter, obviously.