The Honourable Michael Currie, Minister of Development and Technology, is pleased with the findings of the 2002 Statistics Canada Household Internet Use Survey released recently.
The survey indicated Prince Edward Island now has the fourth highest Internet penetration rate in Canada behind only Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. 57.8 % of respondents from Prince Edward Island indicated they access the Internet at home, school, work, public library or other location. Prince Edward Island ranked fifth in the 2001 survey.
"Information Technology and the Internet have become important economic and social tools for businesses and individuals," said Minister Currie. "There is more information and more services being provided online today, and it's important Islanders are accessing the information and the opportunities that are being made available by the knowledge economy."
The survey also found that Prince Edward Island continues to lead the country in Internet access in schools at 27.5 % and again had one of the highest growth rates in regards to home Internet access. Prince Edward Island led in this category in the 2001 survey.
"The evidence is Prince Edward Island is developing a technology culture," said the Minister. "I believe our commitment to the Community Access Program (CAP) is paying off and I would like to thank the volunteers who put in many hours to make this program a success," added the Minister.
The Statistics Canada Household Internet Use Survey found almost half of the regular users from home had at least one household member who used the Internet as a tool for formal education or training. Three in five households used the Internet as a source for medical or health-related information. More than half of home users, turned to the Internet to access news sites or search for government information online.
The 2001 Household Internet Use Survey was conducted as a sub-sample of the Labour Force Survey; 34,158 households responded. The data gathered in January 2002 covered household Internet use in the 2001 calendar year.