A recent report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business ranked Manitoba’s 26 largest municipalities by their operating spending growth in relation to their population growth. The Pas ranked last. Over the study period of 2008-2013 adjusted spending growth in The Pas grew by 17 percent while population growth remained stagnant. CFIB Manitoba Director of Provincial Affairs Elliot Sims  stated that in all of the northern towns is that labor costs are causing increased operating spending growth.