Ottawa considering funds for Saskatchewan oil well cleanup

Ottawa is considering providing funds to clean up old oil wells in Saskatchewan.

Premier Brad Wall presented a proposal to Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau on Feb 8, for $156 million for a program to accelerate well cleanups.

Speaking to reporters in Vancouver,Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr said the government is considering the option.

"We all know that its industry's responsibility but these are tough times and we are looking at investments in infrastructure, so we will consider it," he said.

"But ultimately it's the responsibility of industry."

• Sask. seeking $156M from Ottawa to clean up old oil wells
• Sask. NDP says oil well cleanup money could be better spent

Wall has said that such a program could allow decommissioning and reclamation of 1,000 non-producing wells.

That could mean 1,200 direct and indirect jobs in the oil and gas support industry at a time when the oil patch is reeling from layoffs, Wall said.