Stability or Risk? The choice is yours...

by Sarah Thomson

The sky was overcast this morning, but the sun melted the clouds away by noon and we spent most of the day on the dock watching the boats pass. The Seguin, a big old restored steamer, blew its horn as it passed us, reminding me of the Titanic.

Last night, we set up a tent on the grass overlooking the lake and slept there with the boys. The wind whispered in the fir trees and a screech owl, with its zipper-like call, lulled me to sleep. I dreamt that I was going to cross the ocean in a ship with my family and I had to choose the best boat … oddly the captains were the leaders in the upcoming Ontario election.

The dream began when I arrived at the docks with my family to find three boats and a raft.

The large NDP sailboat was anchored to the far left. It looked weathered but I learned that its captain was a woman. I like that – we need more women in leadership positions. Captain Horwath was standing at the dock and passed me a brochure that explained how she will offer lower rates in 8 to 12 years. I found out that she doesn’t actually have any experience crossing the ocean and she distracts me by explaining that her boat allows passengers the opportunity to work alongside staff in order to get the “true” feeling of sailing. I ask why the masts are empty of sails and with a clever glint in her eye she tells me that the sails were stripped off and made into uniforms for the crew. The boat now has diesel engines.

To the right of the NDP boat sat a large wooden raft. This boat’s captain was also standing on the dock trying to attract passengers to his ship. He is an academic type who has never sailed a boat but has many theories on how it should work. He explains that his raft has only the wind to power it, with no backup engines because they pollute. It has a large garden that will provide all the food for the journey. Captain Schreiner is making a statement – I am drawn to the green raft, lured toward larger concepts. There is something proud in this naked ideology. He points to the other boats, criticizing the use of engines, their rates, and the extra weight they all carry. But the pragmatist in me kicked in. I noticed the lack of lifeboats, and realized that without a back-up power source, there was no way I would put my family at such risk.

Beside the raft stood a strong and sturdy sailboat. It was clean, organized and captained by Dalton McGuinty, who has sailed two major crossings – and one of them through a recessionary hurricane. One of his crew was on the dock explaining that the ship offered great lessons for the kids, a full medical clinic, and a healthy environment with swim and fitness classes. It was solar-powered, with sails and back-up engines. It boasted its own rooftop vegetable garden that complemented the fresh supplies they were loading onto the ship. The rates were reasonable for what they were offering. I saw Captain McGuinty at the helm and noticed that he was busy instructing his crew to throw a safety line down to the green raft. I wondered how long it would be until those stalwart souls would board his ship.

The last boat was moored to the far right. It looked like a reconditioned oil tanker with smoke pouring from its diesel engines. I went to take a closer look and there stood Captain Hudak on the dock, shouting that he had the lowest rates. He tossed me a little handwritten booklet. I read the fine print on the back and learned that Captain Hudak had never actually sailed a ship before, but he had once worked as a cook on an ocean-crossing. His booklet listed all the ways he would cut costs and save money. In capital letters written across the top of the front page, he offered 25% off the going rate.  There was a friendly picture of the Captain smiling – with his family below it. The focus on his cheap rates seemed more like a trick designed to take attention away from the lack of services he offered. His booklet didn’t even mention any services. I watched people with their heads stuffed in the booklet board the boat, and thought I recognized a few friends. They seemed not to notice that the boat was listing too much to the right.

I woke up suddenly in a cold sweat silently screaming to my friends: “Stop, don’t get on that boat…”