Manitoba is a region.
Manitoba ( [ mænᵻˈtoʊbə ] ) is a province at the longitudinal centre of Canada . It is one of the three prairie provinces ( with Alberta and Saskatchewan ) and Canada 's fifth-most populous province with its estimated 1.3 million people . The rebellion 's resolution led to the Parliament of Canada passing the Manitoba Act in 1870 that created the province . Canada 's geography is divided into administrative divisions known as provinces and territories that are responsible for delivery of sub-national governance .