The Pas

One of the four ridings that make up Manitoba’s north, The Pas, is geographically smaller than both Flin Flon and Rupertsland.

It is tucked into a portion of land starting at the Saskatchewan border north of Lake Winnipegosis and south of Flin Flon, stretching across to include the northern tip of Lake Winnipeg and eastward towards but not quite to the Ontario border. It includes the communities of The Pas, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Moose Lake, Cross Lake,

Like the other northern ridings, suffers from high unemployment and poor economic opportunities.

It is generally a younger population than the provincial average.

More than three-quarters of residents are aboriginal.

Health care and social services provide the highest number of jobs.

 

Stats

Population: 20,490

Median age: 27.2

Immigrants: 1.8 per cent

Aboriginal population: 75.2 per cent

Living in poverty: 16.7 per cent

Median income: $16,147

 

Politics

The Pas has been held by the NDP for all but 11 years since World War II.

It is currently represented by Frank Whitehead, who won the riding in a 2009 byelection.

It has traditionally very low voter turnout.

 

2009 by-election results

Frank Whitehead, NDP 2,949

Edna Nabess, PC 722

Maurice Berens 255

turnout: 29.65 per cent

 

2007 results

Oscar Lathlin, NDP 3,262 votes

George Muswaggon PC 1,106 votes

James Houston LIB 459 votes

Turnout: 36.63 per cent