Rupertsland

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For the similarly named territory formerly controlled by the Hudson's Bay Company, see Rupert's Land.

Rupertsland is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created in 1916 from territories that were added to the province four years earlier, and has existed continuously since that time.

Rupertsland is currently the largest riding in the province, a sprawling northern constituency which occupies most of the eastern half of Manitoba. It was a smaller constituency until 1989, when it gained a significant amount of territory from the former riding of Churchill.

The current Rupertsland riding stretches from the Ontario border in the southeast to the Nunavut border in the north; it is also bordered by Lac Du Bonnet to the south and Flin Flon, The Pas and Thompson to the west. Churchill, Manitoba is the most significant community in this wide region.

For logistical reasons, elections in Rupertsland before 1966 were usually deferred until a later date than the rest of the province.

Rupertsland's population in 1996 was 15,843. As of 1999, the average family income was $33,787 (the fourth-lowest in Manitoba), and the unemployment rate was 25%. Over 34% of the riding's population have less than a Grade 9 education, the highest such rate in the province. Government services account for 21% of the riding's industry, followed by education services at 17%.

Eighty-seven per cent of Rupertsland's residents are aboriginal, the highest percentage in the province. Over half the population list Cree as their mother tongue. As of 1999, there was only a 1% immigrant population.

The New Democratic Party has represented this riding since 1969, and it is considered extremely safe for the party. The current MLA is Eric Robinson, who was re-elected in 2003 with over 86% of the vote -- the highest percentage in the province.

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