“The Old Boys Club” [Canadian economy series – Transportation A-4]
When big boys gather, set the rules for all,
Their friends and colleagues pay no heed at all;
“How else can we, stretched out across the plain
Be serviced here by truck or massive train?“So few of us, our bulky cargo’s weight
Cannot pay costs of several types of freight,
So we’re helped out – down East where folks live close,
There’s low resource – our crops or they are toast.“A hundred miles is circle for a truck;
Five hundred miles is where a plane’s in luck;
If twenty-K move forward every hour,
A subway’s built – efficient use of power.”Now Churchill’s line, washed out, is not maintained,
Is model for how country has remained –
The Yanks maintain the Mississippi’s freight,
Say it’s unfair to stay the railway’s fate.We sold our fleet of merchant ships post war
(Fourth in the world – a blessing we ignored);
The Avro Arrow cut up, crews dispersed –
We’ve given away potential – now it’s worse.Bit players in the Yankee’s larger scene –
“Greed is the way to live, has always been”;
Well, yes, back to that day in Eden’s grove;
Before that day, ’twas not, as heaven knows.Lord when will we shape up from sea to sea,
From borderlands to Arctic – can’t we be
Good stewards of this northern resourced land?
Open our eyes, then bid us lend a hand.Thanks Lord for this.
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