The Pas (electoral district)

The Pas was a provincial electoral division in north-central Manitoba, Canada. It was created in 1912 following the expansion of the province's northern border, and existed until its dissolution in 2018. It was named for the rural town of The Pas.

Until the 1960s, elections in The Pas were deferred until a few weeks after the rest of the province for logistical reasons. It was not unheard of for politicians from the south of the province to run in The Pas after being chosen as cabinet ministers by newly elected provincial governments; Edward Brown and John Bracken were both elected in this manner.

Located in the north of the province, The Pas was bordered by the riding of Rupertsland to the east and south, Thompson and Flin Flon to the north, Swan River and Lake Winnipeg to the south, and the province of Saskatchewan to the west. In addition to the Town of The Pas, it also included Easterville and Norway House.

The Pas was represented by candidates of the New Democratic Party from 1969 onward (and for all but 11 years since 1943), and for much of that time was considered safe for the party. Its last three MLAs—Oscar Lathlin, Frank Whitehead, and Oscar's daughter Amanda Lathlin—were all Indigenous. Whitehead had previously won a by-election on March 24, 2009, following Oscar Lathlin's death. He held it until his resignation in 2014, and Amanda Lathlin won the ensuing by-election.

Following the 2018 redistribution, the riding was abolished, and its area was re-distributed into The Pas-Kameesak, Flin Flon and Keewatinook ridings. Amanda Lathlin transferred to The Pas-Kameesak.

Demographics
The riding's population in 1996 was 19,449. In 1999, the average family income was $42,878, and the unemployment rate was 17.80%. Health and social services account for 14% of the riding's economy, with retail trade accounting for another 14%.

Sixty-seven per cent of the riding's residents are aboriginal, the second-highest rate in the province.