The latest census results confirm what Yukoners have been noticing for years: we're growing, and fast.

The Yukon has grown the most out of any jurisdiction in Canada in the past five years.

The 2011 census numbers, released earlier this month, show the territory's population has risen by 11.6 per cent since 2006.

That's almost double the rate (5.6 per cent) it experienced in the previous five years.

The census enumerated 33,897 people in the territory last spring, compared to 30,372 in 2006.

Tagish grew the most in the past five years, jumping from 222 to 391 residents.

Whitehorse's population grew from 20,461 to 23,271.

Dawson City lost eight residents.

Statistics Canada found that the rise is due to both an increase in the number of immigrants and non-permanent residents, as well as people moving within the country.

Economic Development Minister Currie Dixon said last week the news didn't come as a surprise to him.

"We have an unparalleled quality of life,” he said.

Dixon repeated what Yukoners heard throughout the fall 2011 election campaign from the Yukon Party: that the territory's growing pains come from a strong economy, and that's a good thing.

He doesn't think we're experiencing the "boom and bust” roller coaster many Yukoners, especially the NDP, are taking about.

Dixon said we did experience a boom in exploration last year, but mine development is "steady and consistent.”

He called the census news and the current economy tremendously positive.

"When I was younger, we knew we had to leave for a good, high-paying job,” said Dixon. "That's not the case anymore. You can grow up and stay.”

NDP Leader Liz Hanson told the Star last week that the big question is figuring out how to deal with the growth.

"The territory needs to get a grip; we need a more strategic approach to developing the Yukon,” said Hanson.

Planners need more analysis of the growth — like what the demographics are — before the government goes ahead and "starts building schools,” she said.

The territory also needs to plan its energy strategy before it's too late, she said.

Hanson questioned the decision to not go ahead with geothermal heating in the new Whistle Bend subdivision.

Yukon Energy, the territory and city need to really work together on these issues, she said.

Hanson is also worried about the low mortgage rates Yukoners are being offered when buying a home, especially if the economy takes a turn for the worse.

"It should be a concern to all of us,” she said.

"We need a comprehensive economic strategy that doesn't leave us in boom and bust.

"I don't see anything comprehensive right now about the government's plan. They keep saying the same thing, but it's not a strategy — it's a list of things they might want to explore in the future.”

The census reports Canada's population grew by 5.9 per cent, while Ontario's climbed by a mere 5.7 per cent, the lowest rate since the early'80s.