Internet Use

Access to and use of the internet has been seen to add to the education and learning of our citizens. They use the internet at home, at work and in the public library. The internet is used for banking, education, recreation, medical or health information and to purchase goods and services.

The Canadian Internet Use Survey (CIUS, 2005) was conducted with individuals less than 18 years of age in Canada. Two-thirds, or an estimated 16.8 million Canadians and 61% of Canadian households (7.9 million) were connected to the internet; up slightly from the 2004 Survey on Household Spending (HIUS). Only 58% of residents in rural and small town areas had access, well below the national average. Larger metropolitan centers had rates of 77% (Ottawa-Gatineau and Calgary). In the 2005 study, 80% of those with some post secondary education used the internet, compared to 49% who had less education. About 81% of persons in households with children used the internet, compared to 61% in households without children.

In Niagara (2003), 55.5% of Niagara’s households used the internet from all locations, and 45.8% from home, both well below the reported Canadian usage of 64.2% from all locations and 54.5% from home. Other Ontario cities reported much higher access from all locations: Hamilton 66.1%., Windsor 65.9%, Kitchener 63.5% and Toronto 73.5%.

Table 12  Internet access from all locations 1999 to 2003

Table 13    Comparative data from 1999 to 2003 re internet use from home

Source: http://cansim2.statcan.ca/egi-win/cnsmcgi.pgm

Rating: 2