"Canadians have been clear: they want to see an end to these tax giveaways. The federal budget is coming up soon, so we'll find out soon whether this government is listening," says Steven Guilbeault of Equiterre.

Analysis shows $1.4 billion per year in federal subsidies to the oil sector. A disproportionate share goes to Canada's fastest growing greenhouse gas polluter - the Alberta tar sands. The result is higher greenhouse gas pollution, lower government revenues, and fewer jobs created than would be the case if these subsidies were phased out.

"A sizable majority of Canadians from across the country have stated clearly that they want to see an end to special tax breaks to oil and gas companies in Canada," says Christian Bourque, vice-president of research from Leger Marketing, who did the polling. "It is relatively rare to see such a diverse cross section of demographics share an opinion like this."

An open letter calling on Prime Minister Harper and Minister Flaherty to end these subsidies is signed by a diverse group of over 100 organizations —ranging from major environmental and development organizations to the Asthma Society of Canada and to the Canadian Federation of Students. Additional support for phase out of these subsidies comes from the Department of Finance (internal memo leaked 2010), former Minister of Environment Jim Prentice (revealed in same memo), and the majority of voters from all parties across Canada.

"Just look at who has signed this letter, the list goes way beyond environmental groups. We all believe that 1.4 billion dollars shouldn't be going to oil companies that don't need it, we should be using it to address the climate crisis," says John Bennett of Sierra Club Canada.