In its 2010 Canadian Internet Use Survey, the federal reporting agency found the largest percentage of non-user were seniors and households in the lowest income quartile.
Seniors accounted for about one-half (51%) of non-users. Nearly 4 in 10 non-users (39%) came from households in the lowest income quartile.
A majority of non-users (62%) said they did not use the Internet because they had no need or interest, did not find it useful, or did not have time. Over one-fifth (22%) mentioned a lack of skills or training, or that they found the Internet or computers too difficult to use. Limited access to a computer (12%), cost of service or equipment (9%) or age (9%) were other reasons cited for not going online.
The following are other findings of the Statscan report.
Geography
Residents of British Columbia (86%) and Alberta (84%) reported the highest use rates. Rates were lowest in Newfoundland and Labrador (73%) and New Brunswick (70%).
Among individuals living in census metropolitan areas (CMA) or census agglomerations, 82% used the Internet, compared with 72% of those living outside of these areas. CMAs with the highest rates of use included Calgary, Saskatoon, Barrie, Ottawa–Gatineau, and Halifax (all at 88%), as well as Vancouver and Victoria (both at 87%).
Income and age divides
Households were classified into four equal groups (or quartiles), based on their household income. More individuals (94%) living in households in the highest household income quartile used the Internet, compared with those living in households in the lowest quartile (59%).
Individuals under the age of 45 had the highest rate of use, at 94%, while 80% of those aged 45 to 64 used the Internet. Among seniors, about one-half (51%) of those aged 65 to 74 used the Internet, compared with 27% of those aged 75 years and older.
Overall, Canadians are experienced Internet users, with almost one-half of users (47%) having been online for 10 years or more. About three-quarters (76%) used the Internet at least once a day in a typical month.
Mobile use
Among Internet users, one-third (33%) went online with a wireless handheld device. These users tended to be younger and more experienced Internet users. The majority (59%) were under the age of 35, and most (60%) had 10 or more years of online experience. Nearly one-half (47%) also came from households in the highest income quartile.
Online activities
A majority of Internet users went online to bank (68%) or to read or watch the news (68%). Many users obtained travel information or made travel arrangements online (65%), visited or interacted with government websites (65%), or searched for medical or health-related information (64%).
Many participated in social media. A majority (58%) used social networking sites, including 86% of Internet users under the age of 35. Female users (62%) were more likely than their male counterparts (54%) to use social networking sites.
Electronic commerce
In 2010, 51% of Internet users ordered goods or services for personal or household use. In total, Canadians placed nearly 114 million orders, valued at approximately $15.3 billion.
Among those who placed an order, individuals averaged about 10 orders over a 12-month period, with an average total value of $1,362 per person.
Of those who placed an order, 55% purchased travel arrangements (for example, hotel reservations, travel tickets and rental cars) and 48% ordered tickets for entertainment events.
Most shoppers (83%) placed orders from companies in Canada, while 60% ordered from vendors in the United States, and 18% from vendors in other countries.
When it came to paying for their purchases, 89% used a credit card online, and 31% used an online payment service.
Nearly three-quarters (74%) of Internet users window shopped online, or browsed for information on goods or services, without necessarily placing an order.
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