Table 3. Purposes of computer use in a typical month, Canada, provinces and territories, 2003
  Canada  N.L. P.E.I. N.S. N.B. Que. Ont. Man. Sask. Alta. B.C. Y.T. N.W.T. Nvt.
        % of computer users      
Use of the Internet 91,2 85,5 87,6 90,7 88,7 89,2 91,4 89,4 90,9 94,5 93,3 95,1 89,2 77,7
Writing or editing text 75,4 63,2 69,3 69,8 67,0 71,3 77,7 70,3 72,1 79,8 78,6 83,0 79,1 71,2
Reading information
on a CD-ROM or DVD
58,9 55,5 53,7 60,7 53,6 57,9 59,1 56,7 56,2 64,3 57,9 55,5 63,5 43,0
Playing games 51,1 58,8 53,5 57,2 58,4 49,0 49,5 54,9 55,2 53,2 52,1 45,1 54,1 55,5
Accounts, spreadsheets or
statistical analysis
49,0 31,3 42,2 43,5 38,4 48,8 50,5 42,9 45,7 53,2 49,1 49,3 48,7 38,0
Creating graphics, designs,
pictures or presentations
42,8 33,8 40,6 42,6 39,1 40,7 44,3 39,9 37,4 43,7 45,1 44,7 46,9 31,1
Keeping a schedule or
calendar
38,7 31,1 34,3 36,0 35,2 35,0 40,7 34,2 32,0 43,1 40,7 39,7 43,8 32,5
Programming or
writing computer code
12,3 7,8 8,01 8,8 10,1 13,6 14,1 9,1 7,41 9,8 11,0 12,1 9,5 12,2

1 Lower reliability estimate due to sample size.

Source: Statistics Canada, Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey, 2003.

A closer look at the types of activities commonly carried out on the Internet demonstrates the medium’s versatility as an information, communication, entertainment and business tool. In Canada, the vast majority of Internet surfers used e-mail (87.0%), browsed the web for general information (85.2%), and read news and current events (69.4%) in a typical month. Additionally, close to half of Canadian users used the Internet to search for information, including health (49.7%), weather (44.9%) and government information (44.0%). Placing the most frequently used public services online is part of Canada’s Government On-line (GOL) initiative (see Government of Canada 2005, Statistics Canada 2003). The Internet also plays an important role in the job market, as close to one-third of Canadian users (31.7%) used the Internet to search for employment opportunities in a typical month.

There were some notable differences in the patterns of Internet use between Canadians and individuals in other countries. Individuals in the United States tended to use the Internet for the greatest range of purposes. In fact, Americans were among the leaders for most purposes of Internet use examined. The United States is often recognized as a leader in e-commerce and three-quarters (75.1%) of online Americans used the Internet to shop in a typical month in 2003. The majority of Internet users in Bermuda (71.6%) and Norway (61.0%) also used the Internet to shop or browse for products or services. Canadians were significantly less likely to do so (43.2%). Norway also emerged as a leader in online banking (64.1%).

While relatively few Internet users went online for formal education or training in a typical month, approximately one-quarter did so in Switzerland (26.5%), the United States (25.1%) and Bermuda (24.8%). Other less frequent activities on the Internet involved obtaining and saving music, and participating in chat groups or online discussions. Individuals in Canada and Italy were most likely to download music online (Table 4).