Last Monday, the NWT Bureau of Statistics unveiled the preliminary results from its 2002 population survey, putting the count at 42,180 residents.

If those numbers are correct it means Statistics Canada failed to count more than 10 per cent of the NWT's population during the 2001 census. Their numbers -- 37,360 -- showed a drop of 5.8 per cent in population from when the last survey of the territory in 1996.

"I just hope our survey is thorough enough to convince Stats Canada that they're wrong, because they are," said Handley. "They know they're wrong."

The 2001 population census caused a whirlwind of controversy across the NWT, particularly considering that federal formula funding arrangements with the NWT are based on Statistics Canada survey numbers.

The population loss recorded by Statistics Canada might mean that the GNWT may be out by as much as $80 million in federal funding for the 2004 budget if the numbers stand.

Handley estimates that the federal government will pay between $13,000 and $17,000 per resident in formula funding this year.

He believes the problem began when Statistics Canada was unable to hire survey takers from the NWT to conduct the count, mainly due to low wages.

"They couldn't attract Northerners to do the survey for them," said Handley.

"They had a bunch of university students from down south, who were, I'm sure, sharp kids, but (they didn't) know the communities, and the communities (didn't know) them. There was a bit of suspicion there."

Big differences

The differences between the numbers are extreme in some cases.

The NWT count indicates Statistics Canada was off the mark by 848 person in Inuvik. The Bureau of Statistics also found an additional 1,397 people in Yellowknife, and 483 in Fort Smith.

"The Stats Canada people were paid by community, irregardless whether people opened the door, didn't open the door," said Inuvik Mayor Peter Clarkson.

"So some of the surveyors, when they didn't open the door, ticked off that it was vacant."

Gerry Page, director of the Prairie region and NWT for Stats Canada, agreed that some homes were missed during the survey.

"Obviously, when you miss dwellings you miss people," said Page.

He said Statistics Canada has since conducted an undercount survey to determine whether or not their original numbers were wrong. The results will be published in March.