(Photo Credit: ID 4983157 © Darin Echelberger | Dreamstime.com)

By Nathaniel Leigh

Oct. 16, 7pm

Town hall in Falher to discuss proposed Mature Asset Strategy for inactive oil and gas wells

Oct 16, 2025 | 2:11 PM

A non-partisan group is holding a town hall in Falher Thursday, Oct. 16, to talk about the province’s proposed Mature Asset Strategy for dealing with aging oil and gas infrastructure.

The Mature Asset Strategy (MAS) is a series of recommendations that aim to maximize the value from mature oil and gas wells while ensuring the responsible closure of inactive sites.

Brian Jean, Minister of Energy and Minerals, says the strategy was developed in response to the large number of inactive sites in Alberta.

In a statement issued to Everything GP, Alberta Municipalities says:

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Alberta Municipalities views the Mature Asset Strategy (MAS) as a vitally important opportunity to address the challenges posed by aging and low-producing oil and gas wells and ensure municipalities do not bear the financial burden associated with these mature assets. Municipalities are essential partners in Alberta’s economic development, providing infrastructure and services that support industry and communities.

Town hall organizer Phillip Meintzer says the event is part of the non-partisan group Coalition For Responsible Energy’s (C4RE) Clean Up Your Mess Campaign.

Meintzer says they are concerned the strategy will undermine the Polluter Pays Principle that puts the responsibility of cleaning up closed wells and assets on the businesses and leaves taxpayers on the hook for cleanup costs.

Minister Jean says this is not the case, and the province will continue to support the Polluter Pays Principle.

(Photo Credit: Municipal District of Peace)

Minister Jean says the 20 recommendations that make up the strategy were made with taxpayers in mind, and they should not be expected to cover any cleanup costs.

Meintzer says there are some good recommendations in the strategy, but they are overshadowed by some of the ones C4RE views as harmful.

County of Grande Prairie Reeve Bob Marshall says in a statement issued to Everything GP:

The County of Grande Prairie’s statement aligns with the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA)’s earlier response to the Mature Asset Strategy, as detailed in the RMA’s Response to the Final Report published in April 2025. While changes to the definitions and assessments of mature assets would impact the County’s tax revenues, the possible extent of those impacts are not yet known.

The town hall goes Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. at Club Alouette in Falher; doors open at 6:00 p.m.