PRESS RELEASE: Experts and Landowners Gathering in Didsbury to Stop Oil Well Scam
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 8, 2025
Experts and impacted landowners gathering in Didsbury to stop Alberta government’s proposed “Mature Asset Strategy” from dumping oil and gas cleanup costs onto overburdened communities
(DIDSBURY, AB, August 8, 2025) – The Stop the Scam campaign is inviting landowners, farmers, and concerned citizens from Didsbury and the surrounding area to a town hall about the growing crisis of aging oil and gas wells in our community, on Thursday August 14th at 7:00pm at the Elks Lodge in Didsbury, Alberta.
Agenda Overview: the event will feature information on the economic, health and social impacts of unreclaimed oil and gas wells in Didsbury, and how the Alberta government plans to use the proposed “Mature Asset Strategy” to dump the industry’s well cleanup costs onto the public, and weaken cleanup rules. Attendees will receive clear information on actions they can take to help stop the industry’s aging oil and gas well scam. Refreshments will be served.
Notable Speakers: Mark Dorin (affected landowner and representative on surface rights issues), Phillip Meitzner (Coalition for Responsible Energy), Dr. David Swann (Medical doctor, former Leader of the Alberta Liberal Party, co-founder, Alberta Liabilities Disclosure Project).
Networking Opportunities: Attendees will connect with experts, organizers and community members concerned about and affected by the growing crisis of unreclaimed wells in Didsbury and surrounding communities.
About the issue: Mountainview County is facing $701,895,112 in oil and gas well cleanup costs, according to a 2021 analysis by members of the Alberta Liabilities Disclosure Project (available on request). Companies owe over $250M to Alberta’s rural municipalities in unpaid taxes, leading to service cuts in overstretched communities. Instead of forcing industry to pay up, the government is pushing a new plan that puts taxpayers on the hook for well cleanup costs. The so-called “Mature Asset Strategy” or MAS would let industry abandon its cleanup responsibilities, with the public picking up the tab.
Contact Information For media inquiries, please contact:
Phillip Meintzer, Campaign Organizer, Stop the Scam,
phillip@ResponsibleEnergyAB.ca, (403) 771-1647
About Stop the Scam Stop the Scam is a non-partisan coalition of landowners, farmers, experts and concerned citizens dedicated to stopping the Alberta government’s proposed “Mature Asset Strategy”, and leaving taxpayers on the hook for industry cleanup costs.