The Canadian government is embarking on an aggressive sales campaign with the White House candidates to counter the “dirty oil” label that U.S. environmentalists and some politicians are tagging on Canadian exports.

As part of the campaign to promote Canada’s oil sands industry as well as the Conservatives’ environmental climate change plan within the Democrat and Republican camps, a pivotal meeting takes place today here.

Senior Canadian government and oil industry officials will hold a breakfast meeting with Barack Obama’s top energy adviser Jason Grumet, the Star has learned.

Obama, who will officially become the Democratic nominee for president tomorrow, has promised to end his country’s dependence on “dirty, dwindling and dangerously expensive” oil.