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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.
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