“The Regions Of Canada” [Canadian economic series –A-7]
The regions (five) in Canada are King –
All hugging southern warmth’s three hundred K
Except the North – few people call that home,
But relish wild and cold for work and play.Great rivers serve each region in some way –
The Fraser in BC drains southern climes,
As mountain torrents pour into the sea,
Their salmon and truck-farming fade with time.Red River and Saskatchewan flow North
To Hudson’s Bay – ag chemicals now choke
Once pristine lakes with massive algae blooms,
Most from The States – it’s time that we awoke.Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River’s massive flow
Was cleaned up lots from industry before;
Big ships unload in Maritimes – won’t fit
The locks and channels – fur trade’s former door.The Maritimes Peninsula and Isles
Had fishing, now depleted – over fished;
Pollution’s heavy hand wrecks harbors bright;
In Newfoundland First Nations folks are missed.The North’s not even counted in the mix –
A hinterland abused for southern gain;
Not to the folks who do their living there –
South attitudes for most part are a pain.Change comes to regions with discovery
Of use, new use, for what can make a buck;
Tech-change and urban flows affect them too;
Low-hanging fruit in all are almost plucked.Five thousand K across; as much again
From South to North – brings shipping to the fore;
The prairies, split in three (political –
Cut threat to East – a threat was seen before).Now service is the way most earn their pay;
Few export that – take neighbors laundry in;
We’ve thrown away good fortune year-by-year,
Like fish in regions’ fish bowls – “Can’t begin”.That’s not the way new immigrants perceive
This land of milk and honey when they’re new;
Said one, “What’s with the locals, can’t they see?
They’re free, like nowhere else – and wealthy too!”“Entitlement’s” the plague that’s in our land;
With social change all that is up for grabs;
Canadians are spoiled – they sit and whine,
“Self-righteous arrogance” persists – how sad.Thanks Lord for this.
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