Why do tarsands supporters think that we all depend so much on resource extraction? We don't.

The total contribution from all mining, quarrying and oil & gas extraction, (including all related goods and services) at it's peak in 2014 amounted to about 5% of the total GDP. That's nowhere near the contribution of real estate, rental and leasing or manufacturing sectors. 

In fact, service industries combined to contribute $1,188,459M to GDP compared with the $496,193M contribution of all goods producing industries (includes mining, quarrying, oil & gas) as of September 2016.

I suspect that academics credit their own hard work and intelligence when they're counting their blessings.