Why It's Important
Understanding the digital divide is critical for local economic development because it highlights inequities in access to information, services, and opportunities. This divide isn’t just about who has internet and who doesn’t; it includes gaps in digital literacy, affordability, and the quality of connection. When segments of a community are left behind digitally, it hampers their ability to apply for jobs, access education, participate in e-commerce, or use online government services. According to Statistics Canada, while 95% of Canadians have home internet, significant gaps remain for rural residents, low-income households, and seniors. Closing this gap is essential for building business continuity, ensuring all residents can participate in the modern economy, and enhancing overall community resilience.
History
The concept of the “digital divide” emerged in the 1990s as the internet became a public resource, initially describing the gap between those with and without computer access. In Canada, early efforts focused on public access points in libraries and schools. A significant policy moment was the CRTC’s 2016 declaration that high-speed internet is a basic telecommunications service for all Canadians, setting ambitious targets for speed and availability. This shifted the focus from simple access to ensuring high-quality, reliable connectivity, especially for rural and remote communities, recognizing that meaningful participation in the digital economy is impossible without it.
Examples
Connected Coast Project: A subsea fibre initiative delivering high-speed internet to 139 coastal and Indigenous landing sites across British Columbia, illustrating how infrastructure investments close access gaps for remote communities.
First Nations Technology Council: A BC-based organization that delivers digital skills training, technical planning, and policy advocacy to ensure Indigenous peoples can fully participate in—and shape—the digital economy.
Software and Tools
Government of Canada’s Connecting Families initiative: A federal program that provides low-cost, high-speed home internet from participating service providers to eligible low-income families and seniors across Canada.
Public Wi-Fi Hotspots: Many municipalities, libraries, and community centres offer free public Wi-Fi. While not a replacement for home internet, these hotspots are a crucial tool for those without reliable access, enabling them to perform essential online tasks.
GCFLearnFree.org: An excellent, free online platform offering self-paced tutorials on a wide range of topics, from basic computer skills and internet safety to Microsoft Office and social media. It’s a valuable resource for foundational digital literacy.
Libby, by OverDrive: A free app that allows users to borrow e-books and audiobooks from their local library. This promotes digital literacy and provides access to resources without cost, requiring only a library card.
AI Considerations
Artificial Intelligence can both widen and narrow the digital divide. On one hand, AI-powered tools often require significant computing power and fast internet connections, potentially leaving those with older devices or slower service further behind. There is also a risk of an “AI literacy” gap, where those who can effectively use AI tools gain a significant economic advantage. On the other hand, AI can help bridge the divide by powering accessible technologies like real-time translation, voice-to-text services for people with disabilities, and personalized learning platforms that adapt to an individual’s skill level. For communities, the key is to focus on foundational digital literacy first, ensuring residents can safely and effectively access the internet before introducing more advanced tools.
FAQ
No, it also includes affordability of devices and internet plans, the digital skills needed to use the technology, and the quality of the connection.
Typically, it affects residents of rural and remote areas, low-income households, seniors, and Indigenous communities more significantly.
While smartphones are useful, many essential tasks like writing a resume, applying for complex services, or doing schoolwork are difficult or impossible to complete on a small screen.
It limits residents’ access to job opportunities, online education, and e-commerce, and it can make a region less attractive for new businesses and remote workers.
Digital literacy is the combination of skills and confidence required to find, evaluate, use, share, and create content using digital devices and the internet.
Start by checking the federal government’s Connecting Families initiative to see if you are eligible and which providers participate in your region.
You can help by promoting available resources, offering free Wi-Fi, providing training, or advocating for better infrastructure in your community.
Pro Tips
Conduct a Community Digital Needs Assessment: Work with local partners to launch a formal survey to gather specific data on your community’s digital strengths and weaknesses. This data can support grant applications and guide program development, directly impacting economic readiness.
Form a Digital Equity Task Force: Bring together representatives from local government, non-profits, schools, and businesses to create a coordinated community action plan for closing the digital divide, ensuring efforts aren’t duplicated.
Explore Digital Main Street’s resources: While focused on businesses, this Canadian program offers excellent models and training for digital adoption that can be adapted for broader community digital literacy initiatives, boosting local e-commerce capacity.
Checklist
External Resources
MediaSmarts – Digital Literacy : Canada’s centre for digital and media literacy provides excellent foundational resources.
ABC Life Literacy Canada: Offers free programs and resources to help Canadian adults improve their literacy and digital skills.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – High speed Internet Access: Information on federal strategy and programs for rural connectivity.
Digital Moment: A Canadian non-profit focused on providing digital skills education for youth and communities.