Findings

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Internet use in Canada

Of those Canadians who reported using the Internet during 2005, about 90% did so from home. These home-users were asked a series of questions about the specific purposes for which they used the Internet during the past 12 months. Among those using the Internet from home, the most common activities included emailing (91%), general browsing (84%), searching for information about weather or road conditions (67%), making travel arrangements (63%), and viewing news or sports (62%). During 2005, slightly more than half (52%) of home Internet users went online at some point to search for government-related information, and nearly one-quarter (23%) communicated with governments using the Internet. [Full text]

Examining the GOL experience

GOL users - those who used the Internet from home to search for government information or to communicate with government - represented more than 8 million adult Canadians (or 33%) in 2005. These users were asked more detailed questions about their GOL experience. While the majority of GOL users reported searching for government-related information (72%), a substantial proportion also used it to access information on government programs or services online. In addition, about half reported downloading government forms, while roughly one-quarter submitted a completed form, used the Internet to file their income tax, or communicated with government departments or elected officials. [Full text]

Factors associated with GOL use: a multivariate approach

In order to test the effects of various socio-demographic and Internet use characteristics on the likelihood of using the Internet to connect with government, a logistic regression model was used. Variables were selected based on a review of available literature, as well as the results of the descriptive analysis. [Full text]

Summary

The Internet is fundamentally changing the way Canadians are conducting their lives. For example, the Internet has become an important channel for communicating with governments and searching for government information. This study examined responses to questions asked by the 2005 Canadian Internet Use Survey (CIUS) on the use of the Internet for these types of activities. An estimated one-third of adult Canadians (8.2 million), or 55% of home Internet users, went online for GOL-related reasons during 2005. This study identifies a number of important factors associated with accessing government information online. [Full text]