Why don't more people pressure the gov't into acting on evironmental problems, instead of business?

Government fatcats always are concerned about big business but almost always seem to forget there are more than just corporations out there. Why are we paying taxes on the food we eat, while the oilsands in Alberta, and other large oil companies are making tons of cash and have endless exemptions from taxes. What is stopping the government of Canada from taxing the oil companies for their abuse of a natural resources, and use it to fund new initiatives and research into technologies for a greener and brighter tomorrow.