Tar sands/oil sands production only accounts for 2% of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to Statistics Canada, but a poll by Environmental Defence showed the majority of Canadians have missed that very important nuance in the energy and climate debate. “Fifty-seven per cent of Canadians overestimated the value of the tar sands in the national economy,” McKinnon writes. “Forty-one per cent of Canadians believe the impact of the oil sands on our economy is between six and 24 times higher than it actually is.” Even so, 76% believe Canada should reduce its dependence on fossil fuels in light of climate change, and 66% agree the country should be less dependent on the tar sands/oil sands.
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