ORIGIN OF PROVINCE NAME: Likely comes from either the Cree Indian manitowapow or the Ojibway Indian Manitou bou (both of which mean "the narrows of the Great Spirit"). The words referred to Lake Manitoba, which narrows to less than 5/8 of a mile (1 kilometer) at its center. The waves hitting the loose surface rocks of its north shore produce curious bell-like and wailing sounds, which the first Aboriginal Peoples believed came from a huge drum beaten by the spirit Manitou.

NICKNAME: Keystone Province.

CAPITAL: Winnipeg.

ENTERED CONFEDERATION: 15 July 1870.

MOTTO: Gloriosus et liber (Glorious and free).

COAT OF ARMS: In the center, the provincial shield of arms displays in the lower two-thirds a buffalo standing on rock on a green background, symbolizing Manitoba's prairie nature and the historically important Red River buffalo hunt. The red Cross of St. George appears in the upper third and represents the province's bond to the United Kingdom. Above the shield is a crest with a red-and-silver-mantled gold helmet and a beaver holding a pasqueflower and carrying a royal crown on its back. Supporting the shield on the left is a unicorn with a green and silver collar from which hangs a Red River cart wheel. A white horse supports the right side and wears a bead and bone collar from which hangs an Indian symbol. Beneath the shield are displayed grain, pasqueflowers, white spruce trees, and symbols for water. The provincial motto appears on a scroll at the base.

FLAG: On a field of red, the Union Jack (the flag of the United Kingdom) occupies the upper quarter on the staff side. The provincial coat of arms is centered in the half farthest from the staff.

FLORAL EMBLEM: Pasqueflower, known locally as prairie crocus.

TARTAN: Manitoba Tartan (maroon and green, with yellow, dark green, and azure blue).

PROVINCIAL BIRD: Great gray owl.

TREE: White spruce.

TIME: 6 AM CST = noon GMT.

Source Database: Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Canadian Provinces
Table of Contents
AGRICULTURE | ARTS | CLIMATE | COMMERCE | COMMUNICATIONS | DOMESTICATED ANIMALS | ECONOMY | EDUCATION | ENERGY AND POWER | ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION | ETHNIC GROUPS | FAMOUS MANITOBANS | FISHING | FORESTRY | FURTHER READINGS | HEALTH | HISTORY | HOUSING | INCOME | INDUSTRY | JUDICIAL SYSTEM | LABOR | LANGUAGES | LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS | LOCAL GOVERNMENT | LOCATION AND SIZE | MIGRATION | MINING | PLANTS AND ANIMALS | POLITICAL PARTIES | POPULATION | PRESS | PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT | PUBLIC FINANCE | RELIGIONS | SOURCE CITATION | SPORTS | TAXATION | TOPOGRAPHY | TOURISM, TRAVEL, AND RECREATION | TRANSPORTATION | VIEW MULTIMEDIA FILE(S)

LOCATION AND SIZE

Manitoba is bordered by Nunavut to the north, Hudson Bay to the northeast, Ontario to the east, the US states of Minnesota and North Dakota to the south, and Saskatchewan to the west. Manitoba, along with Alberta and Saskatchewan, is one of the three prairie provinces and is located in the center of Canada. Manitoba's total area is 261,000 square miles (676,000 square kilometers), with a total land area of 212,000 square miles (548,000 square kilometers).

TOPOGRAPHY

Elevations rise slowly from sea level at Hudson Bay to the higher areas of the south and west. Most of Manitoba lies between 500 and 1,000 feet (150 and 300 meters) above sea level. But in the Turtle, Riding, Duck, and Baldy Mountains, heights rise to 2,300 feet (700 meters) or higher. The highest point in Manitoba is Baldy Mountain, in Duck Mountain Provincial Park, at 2,726 feet (831 meters).

Manitoba is known as the land of 100,000 lakes, a legacy of enormous Lake Agassiz which covered much of the province after the glaciers retreated. Lake Winnipeg, Lake Winnipegosis, and Lake Manitoba dominate the southern topography; Lake Winnipeg is the fifth largest freshwater lake in North America. The north shows enormous changes from the glaciers' movements and is covered in forest.

CLIMATE

Manitoba is one of the sunniest provinces in Canada. It has what is known as a continental climate, which features great temperature extremes. Summer temperatures in Manitoba range from an average of 62-75°F (17-24°C) in June to 45-65°F (8-18°C) in September. Winter temperatures average 8 to 30°F (-13 to 0°C). Typical of southern Manitoba, the normal daily January temperature in Winnipeg is about -4°F (-20°C), while the normal daily July temperature is about 66°F (19°C). In Thompson, in the center of northern Manitoba, the normal daily temperature ranges from about -17°F (-27°C) in January to 59°F (15°C) in July. The warmest recorded temperature in Manitoba was 112°F (44.4°C) on 11 July 1936 at St. Albans, while the coldest was -63°F (-52.8°C) on 9 January 1899 at Norway House.

PLANTS AND ANIMALS

there are remnants of the native prairie grasses in protected areas of the central plains. Basswoods, cottonwoods, and oaks are common tree species there. Pelicans, beavers, raccoons, red foxes, and white-tailed deer are commonly found near Lake Manitoba; bison were once numerous there too but now exist only in small herds in protected areas. Some 27 species of waterfowl nest in southern Manitoba through the summer, and fall migrations bring thousands of ducks and geese. Polar bears and beluga whales are native to the Churchill area.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Manitoba annually releases about 583,000 tons of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide (gases that cause smog), 554,000 tons of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide compounds, and the equivalent of 3.4 million tons of carbon dioxide. Manitoba generates about 0.8 percent of Canada's annual hazardous waste, and creates about one million tons of solid waste (0.811 tons, per resident) each year. Manitoba has 440 landfills, 17 licensed hazardous waste sites, and no municipal incinerators. Daily water usage is about 8.536 cubic feet (0.239 cubic meters) per person; 47.2 percent of water withdrawals are for residential households.

HISTORY

The Assiniboine Indians were the first inhabitants of Manitoba. Other tribes included the nomadic Cree, who followed the herds of bison and caribou on their seasonal migrations.

EUROPEAN EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT

Sailing into the large bay that bears his name, in 1610 Henry Hudson became the first European to land on the shores of present-day Manitoba. Hudson was looking for the Northwest Passage, a route through the icy waters of northern Canada that could ultimately link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Many explorers thought that such a passage would improve trade with Asia. His expedition made it possible for other Europeans to venture into the interior of North America. Unlike most of the rest of Canada, the northern parts of Manitoba were settled before the south. In 1612, English explorer Captain Thomas Button wintered two ships at the mouth of the Nelson River, on Hudson Bay. Later, a party led by French explorer and fur trader Pierre Gaultierde La Vérendrye explored the Red and Winnipeg Rivers in the years 1733-38 and built several outposts.

Early European interest in Manitoba centered on the fur trade. In 1670, the Hudson's Bay Company was created, and King Charles II of England granted it a large tract of land named Rupert's Land. The company set up fur-trading posts to exploit the country's wealth. During the 18th century, the Montreal-based North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company developed a fierce rivalry, each wishing to gain greater control over the fur trade.

In 1812, the first European agricultural settlement was established in the area around the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers by Lord Selkirk, a Scottish nobleman. He sent a number of Scottish Highlanders to settle land he had secured from the Hudson's Bay Company. He called the area Assiniboia. The Selkirk colony suffered through floods, problems arising from unfamiliarity with the environment, and rivalries within the fur trade. Nevertheless, the settlement survived.

TRANSITION TO PROVINCEHOOD

In 1836, Assiniboia was transferred to the Hudson's Bay Company by the Selkirk family. In the 1860s, the provinces of Canada, anxious to expand into the great northwest, offered to buy the land from the Hudson's Bay Company. Lengthy negotiations for the transfer of sovereignty of the Hudson's Bay Company lands to Canada followed. But little regard was given to the wishes of the inhabitants, especially the Métis (people of mixed Aboriginal and European blood) who made up 60 percent of the area's population.

The Métis were upset that they were being left out of the negotiations and were concerned about American and Canadian settlers moving into their territory. The Métis feared that their land rights and culture would be lost. Under the leadership of Louis Riel, the Métis opposed the Canadian proposals in an uprising known as the Red River Rebellion. Riel succeeded in establishing a locally elected, provisional government in December 1869. Delegates of this provisional government negotiated terms with the new federal government of Canada. Within months, Manitoba became a province of the Dominion of Canada, officially entering the confederation on 15 July 1870.

EARLY YEARS AS A PROVINCE

The new "postage stamp" province (so named because of its square shape and small size) consisted then of only 13,900 square miles (36,000 square kilometers) surrounding the Red River Valley. But the province did not remain that small; its boundaries were stretched in 1881 and again in 1912. Bolstered by its central location as the entry point to western Canada, Manitoba grew quickly during its first 50 years as a province. With the help of the railway, thousands of settlers from eastern Canada and from countries all over the world made Manitoba their home.

In early 1919, workers in the metals and building trades in Winnipeg staged a strike to protest problems of collective bargaining and union recognition by management. Canada's only general strike in its history, the Winnipeg Strike, began on 15 May 1919 when 22,000 sympathetic workers picketed.

The women's suffrage movement gained popularity during World War I (1914-18), when many women worked in factories to replace the men who were fighting in the war. The Women's Christian Temperance Union, a popular prohibitionist movement, also supported allowing women to vote. Activist and author Nellie McClung was instrumental in obtaining women's suffrage in Manitoba in 1916. In 1918, the right to vote in federal elections was extended to women.

Canada lost more than 68,000 soldiers in World War I. Veterans returning to Manitoba faced a bleak future of scarce low-paying jobs, while tariffs on imports kept prices for consumer goods high. Manitoban farmers, like those in the other prairie provinces, had prospered from high wheat prices during World War I, but with the end of the war global grain markets collapsed and wheat prices fell 50 percent by 1920. Affected farmers organized the United Farmers Movement in Manitoba in 1922 to protest the low farm product prices and high transportation rates, and played an important role in provincial politics of the 1920s.

During the 1920s, grain prices recovered, and Canada experienced a period of rapid growth in industry. Transportation improvements--railways and roads--enabled businesses to flourish. Automobiles, telephones, electrical appliances, and other consumer goods became widely available.

Manitoba, like the other prairie provinces, was one of the poorest areas of Canada during the Great Depression. In addition to the falling grain prices of the 1920s, droughts and frequent crop failures devastated the economy of the province. Social welfare programs rapidly expanded during the 1930s, with much of the burden placed on the provincial and municipal governments.

1940S-1990S

Following World War II (1939-45), consumer spending and immigration to Canada rapidly increased. Urbanization spread quickly by means of the National Housing Act, which made home ownership more easily available. Unemployment insurance and other social welfare programs were also created following the war. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, old age pensions were increased in 1951 and a national hospital insurance plan was introduced in 1957.

The popular defeat of both the Meech Lake Accord of 1987 and the Charlottetown Accord of 1992 failed to solve the issue of Québec's role in Canada. Manitoba (along with New Brunswick) failed to ratify the Meech Lake Accord of 1987 because many voters felt Québec would gain preferential status. Along these lines, western Canadian voters in general, many of whom feel that the federal government treats them as less important than other Canadians, have recently voted to elect representatives who favor increased power for provinces and decreased power for the federal government.

In April 1997, the Canadian military had its largest deployment in 20 years when it sent navy rescue units and thousands of soldiers to the flooded area of the Red River. More than 6,000 military personnel were sent to southern Manitoba to help build dikes, guard evacuated towns, and search for stranded people. Over 17,000 people were evacuated in the region's worst flood of the century.

MIGRATION

For many years, most Manitobans were of British origin. During the 1870s and 1880s, immigrants began settling in the prairie regions of Canada. German-speaking Mennonites from Russia, Icelanders, Swedish farmers from the nearby Dakota territories of the United States, English planters, and Jewish refugees from Russia all settled in Manitoba. By the 1880s, about one-third of the 120,000 people living in Manitoba and the Northwest Territories were recent immigrants.

In 1996, 13.3 percent of the 135,945 immigrants living in Manitoba had come from the United Kingdom, 13.2 percent from the Philippines, 7.4 percent from Poland, and 6.3 percent from Germany. Of the 19,175 recent immigrants who came to the province during 1991-96, 22.1 percent were from the Philippines, 6.7 percent were from China, and 6.4 percent were from India.

In 1996, 1.9 percent of Manitoba's residents age 5 and older had lived abroad in 1991. Some 7.7 percent had lived elsewhere in Manitoba, while 4.2 percent had lived in another province five years earlier. Most interprovincial migration was with Ontario.

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

The structure of the provincial government reflects that of the federal government. For example, the provincial premier, as the majority party leader of the legislature, functions much like the Canadian prime minister. Provincial legislators, like their federal counterparts in Parliament, are elected to represent a constitutional jurisdiction and pass legislation. They do so as members of the 57-seat Legislative Assembly. A provincial lieutenant-governor approves laws passed by the legislature, much like the Governor General at the federal level. There is no provincial equivalent, however, to the federal Senate.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Manitoba has no counties or regional governments, but is divided into incorporated cities, towns, villages, and rural municipalities. In order for a community to be incorporated into a village, there must be 750 residents and a tax base of C$750,000, while towns must have 1,500 inhabitants and an assessment of C$1.5 million. An incorporated city must have a population of 10,000. Manitoba has 5 cities, 35 towns, 39 villages, and 105 rural municipalities. Municipal elections are held every three years.

JUDICIAL SYSTEM

The Canadian Constitution grants provincial jurisdiction over the administration of justice, and allows each province to organize its own court system and police forces. The federal government has exclusive domain over cases involving trade and commerce, banking, bankruptcy, and criminal law. The Federal Court of Canada has both trial and appellate divisions for federal cases. The 9-judge Supreme Court of Canada is an appellate court that determines the constitutionality of both federal and provincial statutes. The Tax Court of Canada hears appeals of taxpayers against assessments by Revenue Canada.

In 1996, there were 45 homicides in Manitoba, for a rate of 3.9 per 100,000 persons. The crime rate that year was 1,478 per 100,000 people for violent crimes, and 5,578 per 100,000 people for property crimes.

LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS

The Winnipeg Art Gallery houses the world's largest collection of modern Inuit art, in addition to a collection of contemporary, historical, and decorative art. Also located in Winnipeg are the Western Canada Aviation Museum, the Manitoba Children's Museum, the National Aquatic Hall of Fame and Museum of Canada, and the Wildlife Museum. Manitoba's Marine Museum is located in Selkirk.

POLITICAL PARTIES

After Manitoba joined the confederation, the Conservatives held power until the late 1880s. The Liberal provincial government after the 1890s often campaigned for xenophobic (anti-foreigner) policies which targeted non-British immigrants.

The most recent general election was held on 25 April 1995. The parties held the following number of seats in Manitoba's Legislative Assembly: Progressive Conservatives, 31; New Democrats, 23; Liberals, 2.

TOURISM, TRAVEL, AND RECREATION

Campgrounds, parks, lakes, rivers, and historic sites are the principal attractions for Manitoba's visitors. Both tourists and Manitobans alike can also take advantage of the province's 118 golf courses, most of which are open to the public.

Tourism additionally relies on dozens of community festivals, a number of which have international reputations. Winnipeg's Folklorama is an elaborate two-week summer multicultural celebration. The Jazz Winnipeg Festival in June is Canada's only thematic jazz festival. Other ethnic events include the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Festival du Voyageur, and Oktoberfest. Canada's National Strawberry Festival is held in Portage la Prairie.

ETHNIC GROUPS

Although Manitoba is one of the smaller provinces in population, it is an important center for a number of ethnic groups. It is one of the most important centers of Ukrainian culture outside Ukraine. It also has one of the largest populations of Mennonites in the world. There is also a Filipino population of about 26,000. Over 127,000 people (11.5 percent) trace their ancestry to Aboriginal Peoples or Métis (people of mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry). Winnipeg has the largest French community outside of Québec. Gimli has the largest Icelandic community anywhere outside of Iceland.

LANGUAGES

In 1996, 73.4 percent of all residents reported English as their mother tongue, while 4.3 percent claimed French. Other first languages--including Ukrainian, Icelandic, and various indigenous languages--were reported by 20.1 percent of Manitobans. The remaining 2.2 percent had two or more native languages.

RELIGIONS

Over half of all Manitobans--556,890 people--are Protestant. The leading Protestant denominations were United Church of Canada, 203,100; Anglican, 95,000; Lutheran, 55,700; Pentecostal, 21,850; Baptist, 20,750; and Presbyterian, 16,400. The province had about 331,950 Catholics--30.4 percent of the population--with 297,000 Roman Catholics and 34,950 Ukrainian Catholics. About 20,750 Manitobans were of Eastern Orthodox faith and approximately 14,200 were Jewish. Buddhists, Moslems, Sikhs, and Hindus were also present, each with less than 5,500 followers. About 152,900 Manitobans--14 percent--report no religious affiliation.

TRANSPORTATION

The Trans-Canada Highway connects Winnipeg with Kenora, Ontario, to the east and with Portage la Prairie and Brandon to the west before continuing on to Saskatchewan. In 1996, Manitoba had 630,603 registered motor vehicles and 716,479 licensed drivers. Urban transit systems operate about 600 motor buses. In 1996, some 6.7 million tons of freight was trucked through Manitoba.

In 1996, Winnipeg International Airport served more than 2.8 million arriving and departing passengers. Winnipeg is also a major hub for the two major railroad networks in Canada, Canadian Pacific Rail and Canadian National Rail.

FAMOUS MANITOBANS

Controversial hero/outlaw Louis Riel (1844-85) was the founding father of Manitoba and leader of the Métis rebellions of 1870 and 1885. Nellie McClung (b.Chatsworth, Ontario, 1873-1951), an activist and author from Manitou, was instrumental in women's suffrage being attained in Manitoba in 1916.

Noted Manitobans in entertainment include television host Monty Hall (b.1925), singer Gisele MacKenzie (b.1927), and magician Doug Henning (b.1947). All three were born in Winnipeg.

Celebrated Manitoban authors include historian and journalist George Woodcock (b.1912), novelist Adele Wiseman (b.1928), and historian William L. Morton (1908-80). Margaret Laurence (1926-87) used her hometown of Neepawa as the inspiration for the town of Manawaka in her novels. Gabrielle Roy (1909-83) was a noted francophone (French-language) author. Winnipeg soldier Harry Colebourne bought a mascot for his regiment in World War I, naming it Winnie, after his home town. Colebourne's bear became the inspiration for British author A. A. Milne's Winnie The Pooh.

Manitoban hockey stars include Robert Earle "Bobby" Clarke (b.1949), from Flin Flon; Walter "Turk" Brody (1914-72), from Brandon; and Bill Mosienko (b.1921) and Terry Sawchuck (1929-70), both from Winnipeg.

EDUCATION

Manitoba has over 200,000 students enrolled in its elementary and secondary schools. Of the total enrollment, 197,586 pupils went to public schools, 10,551 to private schools, 11,589 to federal schools, and 133 to schools for the blind and the deaf.

Enrollment in postsecondary community colleges in 1996/97 was 3,598.

Winnipeg is the site of the University of Winnipeg which had 7,219 full-time students in 1994/95. Also located in Winnipeg is the University of Manitoba which was established in 1877 and is western Canada's oldest university. It had about 15,000 full-time students in 1994/95. Brandon University offers special Aboriginal education programs. In 1997/98, the total university enrollment for the province was 21,024 full-time students and 9,796 part-time students.

HEALTH

In 1998 there were 15,305 live births in Manitoba (for a rate of about 13.4 per 1,000 residents), and 9,765 deaths (8.6 per 1,000 population). Reported cases of selected diseases in 1996 included gonococcal infections, 544; campylobacteriosis, 257; salmonellosis, 196; and hepatitis B, 62. There were six new AIDS cases reported in 1996. Between 1985 and 1998, 632 residents became infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Manitoba has 90 hospitals and health centers. There are 5.4 hospital beds per 1,000 population.

HOUSING

There were 421,096 occupied private dwellings in 1996, when Manitoba had over 419,385 households, with an average size of 2.6 persons. There were 287,845 households living in single family detached homes.

POPULATION

As of 1998, about 58 percent of Manitoba's 1.14 million people lived in metropolitan Winnipeg, the provincial capital; the Winnipeg metropolitan area is the eighth-largest in Canada. The second-largest city is Brandon, in southwestern Manitoba, with 40,581 people in 1996. The only other cities in the province are Thompson, Portage la Prairie, and Flin Flon.

ARTS

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet was founded in 1939. Other performing arts in Winnipeg include the Manitoba Opera and several classic and contemporary theaters, including one that features productions in French. Each year, Manitoba's 15 performing arts companies give over 1,500 performances before a total attendance of nearly 800,000.

COMMUNICATIONS

As of 1998, Manitoba had 19 AM and 13 FM radio stations, and 16 television stations. Winnipeg alone has 7 AM and 5 FM radio stations and 4 television stations.

PRESS

Daily newspapers in Manitoba include the Winnipeg Sun, the Winnipeg Free Press, The Brandon Sun, and the Flin Flon Reminder.

SPORTS

Manitoba is the home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Manitoba Moose of the International Hockey League. The Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL) moved to Arizona in 1996 to become the Phoenix Coyotes. The Blue Bombers were the CFL champions in 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1984, 1988, and 1990. Another professional team in the province is the Winnipeg Goldeyes, which play Double A baseball in the Northern League.

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is the economic basis of rural Manitoba. It also supports thousands of jobs in towns and cities. Wheat is the most important crop, accounting for about a third of crop production value. The province is the leading Canadian producer of flaxseed, sunflower seeds, buckwheat, and field peas.

Of the total land area, 27 percent has some agricultural potential. More than half of the potential agricultural land is used for agriculture. Manitoba had 24,383 farms in 1996, with nearly all of them family-operated. In 1997, the total value of crops was C$1.7 billion, or 57 percent of total farm receipts. For 1996, the quantities of the principal field crops produced were: wheat, 4 million tons; hay, 1.85 million tons; canola, 1.57 million tons; barley, 1.56 million tons; and oats, 1.05 million tons. The most valuable crops are wheat, canola, flaxseed, and barley. Potatoes and mushrooms are important horticultural crops.

DOMESTICATED ANIMALS

Receipts for livestock products totaled C$1.2 billion in 1997. Manitoba's livestock population in 1996 included 1.36 million cattle; beef cows numbered 510,200 while dairy cows numbered 59,400. The hog population that year was 1.78 million; sheep and lambs, 38,100; hens and chickens, 6.4 million. Small numbers of pheasants, goats, rabbits, wild boars, ostriches, bison, and emus and rheas are also kept as livestock. Foxes and minks are raised for their pelts.

ENERGY AND POWER

In 1997, crude oil and equivalent production totaled 22.3 million cubic feet (631,000 cubic meters), valued at C$104.2 million.

The major rivers of western Canada flow into the lowland region of Manitoba, giving Manitoba 90 percent of the hydroelectric potential of the prairie region. More than 96 percent of the electricity generated in the province is provided by Manitoba Hydro, which has 12 generating stations on the Nelson, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, and Laurie rivers. Total electrical capacity in Manitoba is 5.4 million kilowatts. In 1995, 29.2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity was generated.

FISHING

Commercial fishing on Lake Winnipeg was common in the late 1800s, and helped Icelandic immigrants to build fishing towns including Hecla and Gimli. More recently, however, sport fishing has become an important part of the tourism industry. In 1998, there were 125,422 residents licensed to fish within Manitoba. Fish hatcheries in Grand Rapids and Whiteshell raise trout, walleye, and other species to replenish stock.

FORESTRY

Northern Manitoba's forests are dominated by pine, hemlock, and birch. As of 1996, Manitoba's forested area was 65 million acres (26.3 million hectares), of which 37.6 million acres (15.2 million hectares) was considered productive for timber. That year, the total timber cut was 74.1 million cubic feet (2.1 million cubic meters).

MINING

Mining is another major Manitoba industry. Metals account each year for at least three quarters of the total value of mining production in the province. The most important metals are nickel, copper, and zinc (the province is a world leader in the production of nickel). Manitoba also produces a number of industrial minerals. Production in 1997 included 80,813 tons of zinc, 44,953 tons of nickel, 51,767 tons of copper, 36 tons of silver, and over 8 million grams (about 258,900 troy ounces) of gold. The total value of mineral production in 1997 was over C$1 billion, with metals accounting for 82 percent of the total.

COMMERCE

In 1996, total trade amounted to more than C$30.6 billion, or C$27,762 per capita (per person). That year, 51 percent of trade was with other provinces and 49 percent was international. Manitoba's trade balance in 1996 had a deficit of C$516 million.

Agricultural trade is Manitoba's primary commercial base. In 1993, exports of food and agricultural products totaled C$1.4 billion. The United States accounted for C$563.6 million of this total. The food processing industries in Manitoba rely on the various service sectors in the province, including transportation, construction, finance, insurance, and real estate. About six percent of all transportation expenditures in the province involve the movement of raw or processed agricultural products, and about six percent of all construction projects either are on farms or are for agriculture-related industries. Some 14 percent of provincial expenditures for financial, insurance, and real estate services are derived from farms. Manitoba farms also annually account for 4.5 percent of the electricity, 58 percent of the chemicals, and 29 percent of the gasoline and fuel oil consumed in the province.

ECONOMY

Manitoba's early economy was based on agriculture, with manufacturing and transportation later becoming vital sectors. Manitoba now has a very diversified economy, but the service sector is the most important. The central location of the province makes Manitoba an attractive base for a wide variety of services, notably in transportation and wholesale distribution. In 1997, the gross domestic product totaled C$29.25 billion, or 3.4 percent of Canada's total.

PUBLIC FINANCE

The fiscal year extends from 1 April to 31 March. For fiscal year 1997/98, total revenues were C$5.8 billion; expenditures were C$5.7 billion. Major expenditure areas were health, education and training, family services, economic and resource development, interest on debt, government services, and assistance to local governments and taxpayers. In the 1997/98 fiscal year, provincial debt amounted to 23 percent of the gross domestic product.

INCOME

As of 1997, average weekly earnings were C$524.37 per worker. Average family income in the province was C$50,236 in 1995. As of 1996, personal disposable income in the province amounted to C$16,996 per person.

INDUSTRY

Manufacturing is the largest goods-producing area of the economy. Food and transportation equipment have long been the leading manufacturing industries. Other important industries are primary and fabricated metals, electrical goods, clothing and textiles, and printing and publishing. In 1997, the total value of shipments by manufacturers was over C$10 billion. The largest contributors were food products, at C$2.2 billion; transportation equipment, C$1.6 billion; and machinery, C$1.2 billion. Electrical and electronic products, primary metals, machinery, and printing and publishing are other major industries.

LABOR

Manitoba's labor force in 1996 was 567,800. Employment in the province's retail trade sector was 64,000 in 1996, and employment in manufacturing industries was 62,600. The annual unemployment rate stood at 6.6 percent for 1997.

As of 1990, 36 percent of the paid workers in Manitoba were union members. From 1981-90, union membership increased by 27.5 percent, from 123,638 to 157,600 union members.

TAXATION

The basic personal income tax rate in 1997 was 52 percent, with high income surtaxes of 2 percent and a flat tax rate on net income of 2 percent. The retail sales tax was 7 percent. Major consumption taxes are levied on gasoline and tobacco. In 1997, the average two-income family of four in Manitoba with a cash income of C$55,000 paid C$16,554 (30.1 percent) in provincial and federal taxes.

Corporate income tax rates in 1997 were as follows: small business rate, 9 percent; general business rate, 17 percent; and capital tax rate, 3-5 percent.

Websites

Source Citation: "MANITOBA." Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Canadian Provinces, 2nd ed. U*X*L, 1999. Reproduced in Discovering Collection. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale Group. October, 2001. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/DC/