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Successful Communication
Tool Kit -
Literacy and You
Communication Canada
May 2003
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5.0 Successful Internet Communication
Use of the Internet as a source of information has increased substantially over the past five years. In Canada today, the percentage of users is nearly 70 per cent of the population. Furthermore, more than 40 per cent of Canadians chose the Internet to gather information in the spring of 2002 (1).
- Communication Canada, Listening to Canadians: Communications Survey, Spring 2002.
As seen in the following tables, the groups that use the Internet the least are associated with individuals with low literacy skills:
- older Canadians;
- lower-income individuals;
- those with less formal education.
However, individuals with low literacy skills are less afraid to use new technologies than they are of not being able to find and understand the information available (2).
- Communication Canada, Issues and Challenges of Communicating with Canadians with Low Levels of Literacy, revised October 2002.
Internet Access
Percentage of Canadians with access to the Internet
Difference between generations:
| Age |
Fall 2000 |
Winter 2002 |
| 18-34 years |
79% |
81% |
| 55 and older |
38% |
44% |
Difference based on income level:
| Income |
Fall 2000 |
Winter 2002 |
| More than $60,000 per year |
86% |
91% |
| Less than $30,000 per year |
42% |
47% |
Difference based on level of education:
| Education |
Fall 2000 |
Winter 2002 |
| University |
86% |
91% |
| High school not completed |
42% |
47% |
Source: Communication Canada, Listening to Canadians: Communications
Survey, Winter 2001.
When surveyed regarding improvements to on-line services and information, individuals with low literacy skills indicated that they would like them to be more:
- respectful;
- secure;
- useful;
- credible;
- reliable.
They also clearly prefer information focused on specific results (for
example, finding a job, applying for employment insurance or the Canada
Pension Plan).
Priority Internet Issues
As defined by Canadians with less formal education, the following are priority issues related to government communication via the Internet.
- Respect: Being more respectful (66%)
- Security: Ensuring privacy (63%)
- Usefulness: Providing more useful services (62%)
- Credibility: Providing more specific information (61%)
- Reliability: Providing more reliable services (50%)
Note: Each element was evaluated separately.
Source: Communication Canada, Listening to Canadians: Communications
Survey,Winter 2001.
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