Regional differences:

• At the regional level, there is a clear difference in usage between the “have” and the “have-not” provinces.
  
  
  • Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta are above the national average in terms of overall access.
  • The Maritime Provinces, Quebec and Saskatchewan exhibit lower levels of access.
  • In Saskatchewan, a slim majority of non-users are in the “near-user” category, whereas non-users in Quebec are more likely to be uninterested or perhaps to perceive language as a barrier.
  • Cost tends to be the major reason for lack of home access in the “have-not” provinces, as well as among non-users in British Columbia.

Technical literacy and social capacity: Narrowing the Digital Divide

Eliminating the disparities in Internet access described in this report will require dealing with a broad range of factors, including:

• citizens’ economic and literacy capacities, as well as their interests and needs;
• the community’s technical resources and institutional supports and services;
• the community’s geographic, economic and social opportunities and limitations;
• conditions for individuals in the workplace (their employment status, type and requirements); and
• the nature and impact of change in the regional, national and international economic and social environment