The Pas, Manitoba

Upon commencing the Transfer of Portion of Hudson Bay Railway Line to Keewatin Railway Company Event at 1100 hours on May 25, 2006 in The Pas, Manitoba.

MR. HOPPER (Mayor, Town of The Pas) (Moderator):
    Good morning, everyone, special guests, and all those gathered here for this historic occasion.
    As customary in this part of the country, we are going to open this special ceremony with a prayer from Miles Bighetty, the Elder from Pukatawagan.
    Miles, provide us with the opening prayer, please.

CHIEF MILES BIGHETTY (Elder):
(Speaks in native tongue).
    Our Father, who art in Heaven
    Hallowed be Thy name;
    Thy kingdom come,
    Thy will be done,
    On earth as it is in Heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread;
    And forgive us our trespasses,
    As we forgive those who trespass
    against us.
    Lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.

MR. HOPPER:
    Thank you very much.
    As I mentioned in the opening remarks, this is an historic occasion.
    Railways have played an important part in the opening of Canada, not only from east to west, but also south to north.
    Numerous years ago the same trains doing the same tracks I was not in such a good position. I was actually sitting in front of the train, because we were complaining and we were supporting our friends from Pukatawagan North.
    VIA recognized that at the time and responded very quickly, upgrading the coaches and putting more coaches on.
    This is a significant step in putting the lifelines into our northern-eastern side of our province.
    We have a number of speakers this morning. We are going to have Ron Lemieux, Minister of Transportation and Government Services Manitoba, Brian Jean, Parliamentary Secretary to the federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities.
    We also have Chief Pascall Bighetty, now the President of Keewatin Railway Company. It sounds good, Pascall.
    Ms. Lore Mirwaldt, member of the Board of VIA Directors. Tony Fortino, General Manager, Hudson Bay Rail Line.
    I would like to I know I’m going to miss a few but just I would like to acknowledge Gerrard Jennissen, MLA from Flin Flon. Actually, quite a chunk of this line actually goes through your riding, Gerrard. Thanks for coming down for this.
    Grant Buchanan, Deputy Mayor of Town of The Pas, Michael Woelcke, Via Rail Canada.
    I apologize for the others I may have missed.
    The fact that you’re out here today is indicative that this is definitely historic.
    Just a brief outline or background on Minister Lemieux. I didn’t have a bio so I asked him to write something down. He wanted to know if we wanted to go back as far 1950 and I told him that was a good year, for obvious reasons.
    In 1999 and 2000, Premier Doer (Premier of Manitoba) appointed Ron as Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs here, in Manitoba.
    Ron has since been Minister of Culture and Heritage and Tourism. Ron has also been Minister of Education and Youth.
    Two years ago, Premier Doer appointed Ron as Minister of Transportation and Government Services. Previous to being elected, Ron was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins and also was recreation director and a civil servant.
    Please join me in welcoming Minister of Transportation, Ron Lemieux.

(applause)

HON. LEMIEUX (Minister of Transportation and Government Services, Manitoba Government):
    Well, thank you very much for the invitation first of all.
This is truly a historical moment in Manitoba’s history and we truly appreciate being a partner and also being invited for this historic occasion.
    Prior to making my comments, let me just tell you a little bit about my background in a sense.
    Going back this, actually this station brings back a lot of memories. In the mid-60s I worked on the extra gang for a few years and went up this line to Charles and Ruddock and Sherridon and learned what real work was all about quite frankly and had an education in more than one way. This really brings back fond memories, coming back The Pas, and in particular, this particular station.
    As I mentioned, as Minister of Transportation and Government Services representing Premier Doer and Oscar Lathlin, the MLA that is for Aboriginal Northern Affairs who’s not here today, and also Gerrard Jennissen, my good friend, the MLA for Flin Flon, we’re really pleased as a government to see this rail line happen.
    None so more than that Sherridon rail line, which provides the community of Pukatawagan, one of our largest First Nations communities, with all-weather access, which is truly important.
    It has always been very important for Manitoba that the Mathias Colomb Indian Band continues to have rail service.
    Now that we know that the Hudson Bay Rail Line, or we knew that the Hudson Bay Rail Line faced financial difficulty when its primary customer on the Sherridon line closed its mine at Ruttan, and we’re aware that the forestry and fishing industries were highly dependent on rail as well, our government and everyone here today believed the solution would be the formation of a short line railway and one owned by local First Nations communities.
    But this could only be done with partnerships and it’s involved parties over, I would say, at least five years going back to 2001, when people talked about this railway line actually happening.
    During that time we have gradually settled on a vision of the First Nations’ ownership of the critical infrastructure that serves them.
    The analogy I can use on the process that has taken place as a former hockey player, when you take a look at the hockey teams now that are striving for the Stanley Cup, they get through it with a lot of bumps and bruises, a lot of scrapes. There are some ups and downs on their journey, but eventually they get there and the trophy for the National Hockey League is the Stanley Cup.
    The trophy in this particular case is not a shining steel cup but a shining steel railway, which truly is, in many ways, more important, quite frankly than a shining steel cup.
    This means far more than that in many, many different ways.
    For my government’s part, we made an early decision to commit some significant capital required to be a partner.

 (Sound of a train horn)

    That sound will be going on the Keewatin Rail Line soon, so it’s fantastic.
    Anyway, I just want to say that it took real leadership and partnership to get us through this.
    I am also pleased that the leadership of the Tataskweyak Cree Nation and War Lake First Nation agreed to join us in this venture in the spirit of contributing to the common good of Northern Manitoba.
    On the tracks, as an owner Hudson Bay Rail deserves a lot of credit for this perseverance and also flexibility in these complicated long-term negotiations.
    I’m sure that Keewatin Rail Company and Hudson Bay Rail will forge an excellent working relationship together and we trust that will happen.
    And lastly, but not least, Manitoba recognizes and deeply appreciates the major financial contribution of the federal Government through the Department of Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities, VIA Rail, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
    Without your contribution, quite frankly, and the leadership and the vision of the federal government.
    For years, the Province of Manitoba and other provinces have been saying we need a transportation vision in this country.
    We really want to sincerely thank Transport Canada staff that are here today, all the people who have participated, as well as the federal government in showing your leadership and your support in this venture.
    Because the way we look at it and the way most communities are looking at this particular venture, it’s true economic development, economic development in the real, true sense of the word.
    You’re talking about supporting communities, giving them a hand up, giving them the opportunity to be successful for themselves, not wanting a handout from governments, but actually being successful.
    That’s what this rail line means to these communities. It gives them some hope. It gives them an opportunity to prove that they can do a lot of great things for their communities.
    Having said that, I just want to conclude by saying again that we truly thank the federal government and all the partners on the tracks and many others that were involved in this initiative.
    Keewatin Rail is going to be successful, we know that. It's truly a milestone in north-western Manitoba, and we appreciate all the partnerships.
    I wish Keewatin Rail and the people of Pukatawagan much success in this venture and in future developments.
    We certainly will want to be a partner with you, I know, in many other ventures, and along with the federal government. We know that there’s more to do, much accomplished, more to do, and we know in true partnership we will be able to get this done.
    So again, thank you one and all. Thank you very much for the invitation today. Thank you.

 (applause)

MR. HOPPER:
    Thank you, Ron. I’m sure there are a lot of communities across Canada, not only in Manitoba, that are looking upon this event with envy.
    At one time, rail lines were being pulled up and sold for scrap and I think the initiative shown here today shows that this is the way to go and those words of encouragement from the province and the federal government on this is what we want to hear.
    I would now like to ask Brian Jean to come forward. Just a little bit on Brian. Brian is currently the Parliamentary Secretary to federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.
    Brian was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004. Again, Brian was re-elected in 2006 as Conservative candidate in Fort McMurray-Athabasca.
    Prior to entering politics, Brian worked briefly as a farmhand, as a logger, and then for the past decade as a businessperson.
    We have an extra gang worker and logger. We’ll have an arm-wrestling after maybe.
    Among Brian’s many public service activities, Brian was Chair of the Alberta Summer Games, the Director of the local Chamber of Commerce and Honorary Chair of the Children’s Health Foundation. Brian is also an outdoor enthusiast and father of teenage boys.
    Please join me in welcoming Brian.

 (applause)

HON. JEAN (Parliamentary Secretary to Lawrence Cannon, federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities):     Well, thank you so much.
    I would like to take the credit for this from the federal government’s side, but it really belongs to our Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport, who deserve all the credit for this, along with Transport Canada staff.
    Welcome, bonjour, Tansi, Minister Lemieux, MLA Jennissen. Mr. Jennissen, it's a pleasure to meet you this morning, Chief, Elders, honoured guests.
    I am absolutely thrilled to be here on the behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister Cannon to officially launch the Keewatin Railway.
    This real historic agreement is a place in history, much like the last spike was a place in history for Canada.
    After 13 years of, quite frankly, no action by the federal government, I have to say I am pleased to be part of this today and to be part of this new Conservative government that has delivered on not only the Indian Residential file, but also our positive commitment towards Aboriginal housing, both on-and off-reserve.
    In a mere 100 days we have taken great leaps on helping Aboriginal Canadians and I am very proud of that.
    Under the leadership of this great Prime Minister, our caucus and government remain committed to uplifting the standard of living for all Canadians, especially those people such as Aboriginal Canadians that have been ignored for some period of time.
    The issue is not about money. The issue is about results and this government, under this Prime Minister, is committed to those results.
    One of the first acts that I was so proud of was when this Conservative government took steps towards safe water for Aboriginals all over Canada.
    I look forward to the opportunity and have taken steps in my own riding and the reserve of Wide Water is still having problems with their water and we are working towards that commitment, along with many other reserves across Canada. I am proud of that.
    This announcement today is another fine example of that, of this Conservative government and our dedication to empower and the betterment of Aboriginal and northern communities across Canada.
    I am from a northern community, from Fort McMurray. I have lived there all of my life, and I understand the issues of isolation, I understand the issue of transportation initiatives and the problem with transportation and the problem with infrastructure in such a spread out country.
    I am glad for the first time in the history of the federal government as well that we are being on a webcast, a new creative thing that you can look on your computer for the next 365 days and find all of our smiling faces there giving great words of encouragement to all.
    At the outset, I must mention that this Conservative government, through Transport Canada, through Western Economic Diversification, and Indian and Northern Affairs, have been a major supporter of this four initiative by three First Nations, specifically, the War Lake First Nation, the Tataskweyak First Nation, and the Mathias Colomb Indian Band.
    This position to acquire the Sherridon subdivision rail line and to operate both passenger and rail service is a great endeavour.
    I have a family, I have a huge family in Northern Alberta. Many are members of bands there, including the La Loche Band, the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation, the Fort McMurray First Nation, the Mikisew Cree First Nation and I can only hope, to be honest, that we in Northern Alberta can emulate this great endeavour and we can solve some of the transportation issues that plague us and plague all Canadians because of the geography of our great country.
    Keewatin Rail, this rail system is actually the second of its kind in Canada. The first was, of course, Tshiuetin Rail in Quebec I believe it is, in 2005 in Eastern Canada; that was the first initiative and I hope to see many more initiatives, maybe one up in Northern Alberta hopefully.
    Coincidentally, both Keewatin and Tshiuetin mean northern in the respective languages. As far as I know, these are the only First Nations in the world that operate and own their own railway, and that is something that Canadians can be proud of and you here today can be very proud of.
    This is worth something, this is worth celebrating, and our Prime Minister and our government are very proud of this accomplishment.
    I applaud the three First Nations for taking this initiative and for stepping out. The entrepreneurial spirit is never really rewarded adequately, but as a small business person and owner for years, I can tell you that it takes a lot of hard work and I’m sure that you will have every success on that.
    I especially acknowledge the financial contributions of the First Nations that put together money to do this kind of initiative.
    The federal government also acknowledges, of course, the Province of Manitoba and their great initiative to bring this together and their help in working towards the Sherridon subdivision and the purchase towards that.
    I would also like to commend the VIA Rail and the Hudson Bay Railway for their support of this initiative, and most importantly, I have to say that I’m very proud of the federal government for coming to the table. The creation of this railway will bring a lot of strength to the local economy and enable new business opportunities and good transportation for the region.
    We have, in fact, I will mention the money amount, the $8.1 million that has been put forward by the federal government for this initiative, including almost $5 million towards the acquisition of the line and a further $3.2 million towards start-up costs, including the ongoing investments, locomotives, infrastructure investments, even as far as for the summer 2006.
    We are committed to this railway system, we are committed to the First Nations in this province, and this Prime Minister and this Conservative government are going to continue to work with the First Nations to make sure that this is an achievement that we can be proud of and it actually is an achievement to continue our success in Northern Manitoba and the rest of Canada.
    I would like to take a brief moment just to describe the system itself. I’m going to try to pronounce this without stuttering, but this is under the program of the Regional and Remote Passenger Rail Services Class Contribution Program, a federal government program and that’s a lot of words.
    In essence, what it’s saying is it’s a federal program that is funding and providing what Keewatin needs today.
    The purpose of this program is to ensure safe, reliable, and sustainable regional and remote passenger rail service. There’s a lot of Northern Canada that’s listening to this announcement and will be tuning into that webcast on the computer to find out more about it.
    But I can tell you that we’re committed towards rural and remote communities in Ottawa, because we represent the people of Canada and we are very proud of our achievements for all rural and remote communities across Canada.
    These rail systems, this kind of transport are essential services, essential lifelines as the Minister has said, for isolated communities that are often their only means of surface transportation.
    In the 1960s in Fort McMurray when I lived there it took 24 hours to go 300 miles and there was only 800 people there. I can tell you isolation is something I’m very well aware of and we need to as a country solve it.
    These services not only carry passengers, but support economic activities in lumber, mining, trapping, fishing, recreational and tourism sectors. It will bring growth to this area and success.
    Rail is the most cost effective means of transportation that we have and I have to say that I am very happy also about the environmental benefits it brings to our country and I’m looking forward for my constituents and my family and my friends in Fort Chippewa and Fort Fitzgerald that are in my constituency that have no link to the outside world other than currently plane, and I would like to say that we would like to emulate this particular situation.
    In closing and I know everybody’s waiting for that, and you’re probably wondering why I’m shaking up here, well, it is cold, so those people tuning in everybody’s shaking. We’re waiting for the snow to fall.
    In closing, I’d like to just reiterate that the Conservative government is very proud of this. We remain committed to it, we remain committed to the continuation of faster rail services in remote areas. We take great pride in this, and we will continue to partnership with Keewatin Railway to ensure a smooth transition and continued quality passenger and freight rail services in the years ahead.
    Finally, I’d like to thank our Prime Minister, this government, Minister Cannon, who is my boss and tells me where to go and how to get there. Quite frankly, he’s done a lot of work on this file and I’m very proud of him and his efforts. Minister Skelton, Minister Prentice, and Minister Toews, who, of course, is from Manitoba, have all worked on this file.
    I would like to also say to all the folks at Transport Canada, thanks for putting this together and thanks for all your hard work wherever you are, because it takes a lot more people than just me standing up here or even the Minister to do this. It takes a lot of teamwork.
    Finally, I’d like to say goodbye and I would like to thank you all for inviting me here today.
    May the rail tracks always be clear, the weather perfect, and the journey safe. Hi, hi. Thank you. (speaks in native tongue).
    Thank you very much, goodbye.

(applause)

MR. HOPPER: Thank you, Brian.
    Well, a couple of enlightening things there.
    First of all, the webcam, I guess that means my boss knows I’m not at work.
    And you did touch on a couple things and I’m glad to see that the federal government is onboard.
    Because of the availability of the webcam we are talking to the rest of Canada, we’re talking about affordable traffic.
    The Port of Churchill is in the heart of our continent, under-utilized by the federal government. We’re looking for more support from the federal government for that. I know the province has done their share and we’re waiting for the federal government to jump onboard for that one as well.
    It’s a great opportunity for Canada to utilize it. We’ve got the north south and I know if one of our elders from town, Ed Johansson was here, he would be going on and on and on and you would get the message.

HON. JEAN: I’ll get the message through, I promise.

MR. HOPPER: Thank you very much.
    At this time, I’d like to call forward Chief Pascall Bighetty.
    The Chief really needs no introduction around this part of the neighbourhood. One of the reasons Central and Northern Manitoba is so progressive is because of the likes of leadership shown by Chief Bighetty.
    He not only looks out for the interests of First Nations people, but he looks out for what’s good for all of Manitobans. First you’re a Manitoban citizen and then the rest follows.
    We have done several projects together in the past, not only in The Pas and Opaskwayak Cree Nation and Pukatawagan and others, but right across the province, so I’m glad to be able to introduce the first President of Keewatin Rail Travel, Railway Company, Pascall.

 (applause)

CHIEF PASCALL BIGHETTY (President, Keewatin Railway Company): Thank you.
    First of all, I would like to thank our elders from Puk and the Band Councillors and three chiefs from War Lake, Split Lake, and also to our VIA Rail representative Mirwaldt, and also to the people I guess.
    This was a people-driven project and I wouldn’t want to exclude that our negotiator was Paul Power and also Tom McHale(ph) is our new General Manager, who used to be with the VIA Rail.
    I remember about 10 years ago, here on this spot where we sat over there, we didn’t let the train go across.
    Then the Mayor came in and he sat down with us and the VIA Rail came and he said if you don’t like how this thing is going, why don’t you take over?
    Well, I guess that has happened now and it’s a little scary, but it could be done and I would very much thank in all of the event, I guess, with the Government of Canada and also with Manitoba.
    I remember a story that was told in 1952 when the train, when the first train arrived in Pukatawagan. The elders called it (speaks in native tongue), meaning the fire horse or fire toboggan or whatever you call it.
    It arrived with great thunder, you know it was like, the elders were saying, it’s like a thunderbird arriving, and we, our elders watched in awe and we didn’t know at that time in 1952 that we would take part on the running of the operation.
    This operation will be run by the three communities for 10 years. That is all the money we have for 10 years. After 10 years, it’s not going to be long, 10 years is just going to be very short.
    At that time I guess the rails will come out, for those that will be alive then, and I guess we’ll be ready for another transition called an all-weather highway.
    In the meantime, I hear, I had a telephone call from one of the mining corporations that the nickel was looking very good in Lynn Lake. And who knows? Maybe we’ll be venturing into a profitable business.
    I thank the people of Pukatawagan, the elders, and everybody that’s here, councillors that are here. Without their support we wouldn’t have been here and I wholeheartedly thank everybody here. It’s just a good place to be here at this time, and I thank everybody for being here.
    It’s kind of chilly this morning, but I thank everybody again.
    Thank you very much.

 (applause)

MR. HOPPER: Thank you, Chief.
    I think in 10 years, we’ll have an even stronger railway and an all-weather road. That’s what we need. That’ll be the message for federal and provincial. I can’t miss these opportunities.
    Our next speaker is Lore Mirwaldt.
    Lore is no stranger to the town of The Pas. She lived and raised her family here with her husband Scott for a number of years.
    Lore received her diploma in arbitration from the Arbitration and Mediation Institute of Manitoba and a bachelor of laws degree from the University of Manitoba. Lore currently practices law at Mirwaldt and Gray in The Pas and in Winnipeg.
    Lore currently acts as General Counsel to the Cree Nation Child and Family Caring Agency.
    Lore has been a Board Member of the Canada Ports Corporation in Ottawa, so if I forgot to say anything about Churchill I’m sure you would, good.
    Lore has served as Northern Continuing Legal Education Coordinator for the Law Society of Manitoba and part-time instructor at, it says Keewatin Community College, but now we have the University College of the North here, in The Pas as well.
    Lore was named to the board of VIA Rail Canada in August of 2005.
    Please join me in welcoming Lore.

 (applause)

MS. MIRWALDT (Member of the Board, VIA Rail Directors):
Tansi. Thank you, Your Worship, and welcome to Minister Lemieux, Parliamentary Secretary Jean, or Jean, sorry. I tend, when I am with people from the federal government to make the mistake of going to French rather than English, so you’ll forgive me. I understand you’re from Northern Alberta and you’re used to this kind of weather.

HON. JEAN: I thought I had it in the first six months.

MS. MIRWALDT: Well, it’s just a brisk day here in The Pas, so welcome to everybody, Chief Bighetty, Councillors, welcome to The Pas.
    VIA Rail Canada has operated trains 290 and 291 between The Pas and Pukatawagan for many years.
    During this time, we have been proud to have a place in these communities and to work closely with the people who have served throughout this region.
    Today, our relationship with the people here takes on a new direction, as the First Nations and the Keewatin Railway Company take full control and responsibility for these rail services.
    It is an occasion for celebration and one which marks the beginning of a new partnership between Keewatin and VIA Rail.
    Good passenger and freight rail service is vitally important to the people and communities here, perhaps more so than anywhere else in Canada, because often it is the only surface mode of transportation available at least till we get the road, Gary.
    The Keewatin Railway Company will be able to deliver the best rail service possible.
    It will have greater flexibility to respond to the needs of the region, to ensure that people have access to reliable, year-round transportation.
    I am sure that it will grow as a valuable resource for the community, able to identify and respond to opportunities for building and strengthening the local economy of our region.
    VIA Rail is committed to working with the Keewatin Railway, providing whatever help, support, and assistance we can to make this new partnership a success.
    We will be leasing equipment and we will provide maintenance services to the new venture.
    But our commitment means more than this. We remain committed to serving Northern Manitoba with service between Winnipeg and Churchill and our connections with Keewatin service will remain important to our customers and we are eager to work with Keewatin as it explores opportunities to enhance rail services.
    For example, opportunities to develop new adventure tourism markets in the Pukatawagan region. We believe that the more successful Keewatin is in serving these communities, the more successful passenger rail will be throughout Northern Manitoba.
    The transfer of rail services to the people of this region in many ways is an historic event.
    I would like to thank everyone who worked very hard to make this transfer possible the Government of Canada, the Government of Manitoba, Hudson Bay Railway, and many of my colleagues at VIA Rail.
    Above all, on behalf of the board and executive of VIA, I would like to thank and congratulate Chief Bighetty, President of the Keewatin Railway Company, and the owners of this new venture, the people of Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, the Tataskweyak Cree Nation and the War Lake Cree Nation.
    We wish you every success and we look forward to working with you, building a long and fruitful partnership in the years ahead. Thank you.

 (applause)

MR. HOPPER: Thank you, Lore.
    I would now like to call Tony Fortino, the President of Hudson Bay Rail Line.
    Just to show that everybody doesn’t move west, Tony actually came from B.C. and he says the weather’s great here today.
    Tony?

 (applause)

MR. FORTINO (President, Hudson Bay Rail Line): Thank you.
    I am not from the Golden Triangle either. I'm from Northern British Columbia. And, yes, I am used to this weather. Thank you.
    Respected elders, distinguished guests, Ministers, valued customers, Your Worship, Mayor Hopper.
    I would like to take this opportunity to express that we, at Hudson Bay Railway, are pleased to have worked closely with the First Nation communities, the federal and Manitoba governments, VIA Rail Canada and other stakeholders involved in this project.
    We feel this is a great example of a successful public-private partnership.
    Going forward, Hudson Bay Railway will work closely with the management team of the Keewatin Railway in a common objective to provide safe, dependable rail service to remote communities in Northern Manitoba.
    With a Port facility at our northern terminus of Churchill, rail and road connections to the rest of the North American transportation infrastructure, we believe this positions us well to be able to provide a competitive, seamless transportation link, transporting local products to world markets.
    Thank you.

 (applause)

MR. HOPPER: Thank you, Tony.
    Just prior to our closing prayer, we would invite questions from media or those gathered here, if you have any questions of any of the speakers at this time.

UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: (Inaudible question).

MR. HOPPER: Yes, and they are available after as well.
    At this point, again, just prior to asking for a closing prayer, I would again thank everyone for all the many years of hard work you have put into this endeavour.
    It is truly historic as has been mentioned, and it’s something that I think is going to go a long way to ensure the viability of all the communities north of The Pas on the western side of our province.
    As was mentioned by the Chief that there is opportunity in Lynn Lake, there is opportunity in Sherridon Cold Lake. There’s mining going on as we speak and lots of exploration, so I’m sure that the central Manitoba is alive and well.
    We will look forward to their railway being a big part of that.
    With that, I’d ask Elder Bighetty if you would come forward just for a closing prayer.

CHIEF MILES BIGHETTY:
(Speaks in native tongue).
    Our Father, who art in Heaven
    Hallowed be Thy name;
    Thy kingdom come,
    Thy will be done,
    On earth as it is in Heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread;
    And forgive us our trespasses,
    As we forgive those who trespass
    against us.
    Lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.

 (applause)

MR. HOPPER: Thank you very much and as they say, all aboard!

 Whereupon the event concluded.