According to an annual report from the Conference Board of Canada, the country is still the second best-connected country in the world behind the United States. The report, which includes a Connectedness Index, ranks the 10 leading countries according to the availability of information and communications technology, including its price, its reach and its use.
Compiled with the help of Industry Canada, the report was released on Tuesday under the title, Cashing In on Canadian Connectedness: The Move to Demonstrating Value.
The study also finds that other countries are catching up fast in their use of the internet.
The report finds that a "digital divide" persists in favour of younger, better-educated and urbanized Canadians.
It's the fourth year in a row Canada has held its second-place ranking. Sweden is now tied for second place, and other countries including Finland, Germany, Britain and Australia are not far behind.
Canadians enjoy the cheapest access to the internet, because charges for internet connections, phone hookups, and local and long-distance calls are low.
But use of the internet is most widespread in the U.S., which the survey found is ahead in e-business indicators such as internet purchases and business-to-business e-commerce. The U.S. also leads in availability of information and communication technology.
The report praised Canada's e-government and e-learning initiatives, but said the internet could be used more in the country's health care system. Canada leads the U.S. on internal processes like inventory management, but lags in external communications with patients and other institutions.
Quelle: CBC News, 27.04.2004
