Yellowknife (July 12/06) - Yellowknifers got counted, says Statistics Canada.

The federal department and the territorial Bureau of Statistics reported more than 96 per cent of Yellowknife's population had filled their 2006 Census forms.

Counts indicate that the population has risen.

"Even though the preliminary reports can't be released, it is looking like the numbers are up," says Gerry Page, director of the Western Region and Northern Territories at StatsCan.

This is good news for the territorial government as the previous census missed about 10 per cent of the population.

This time around, StatsCan has worked closely with the Bureau of Statistics to ensure that all residents have been accounted for, said Angelo Cocco, territorial statistician.

"The result is going to be a lot more accurate and the probability is a lot lower that they will underestimate the population again."

Correct numbers are very important as the GNWT receives federal funding based per capita on the population of the Territories, Page and Cocco said.

A higher population statistically would put more money into the Territories' budget, as the government is due to receive $17,951 per person per year from the federal government.