In a world where nearly everything requires internet access—applying for jobs, accessing government services, completing schoolwork, staying connected with family—not having a device is increasingly not just an inconvenience but a barrier to full participation in society. Yet millions of Canadians lack access to computers, smartphones, or tablets, or cannot afford the devices and data plans needed to use them effectively. This digital device divide reflects and reinforces broader economic inequalities, creating a two-tiered society where some can navigate the digital world easily and others are left behind.
The Device Gap
Who Lacks Access
Device access in Canada correlates strongly with income. Lower-income households are significantly less likely to have computers and home internet. They may rely solely on smartphones with limited data plans, making complex tasks like job applications or online learning difficult. When devices are present, they may be outdated, shared among family members, or unreliable.
Certain populations face particular challenges. Seniors may lack devices or the skills to use them. Indigenous communities, especially in remote areas, face infrastructure and affordability barriers. Newcomers to Canada may not have brought devices or may need devices compatible with Canadian systems. People experiencing homelessness often lack any device access. Students in low-income families may not have computers for homework.
Beyond Ownership: Effective Access
Device ownership alone doesn't ensure effective access. A smartphone is not adequate for many tasks requiring full keyboards, larger screens, or specific software. Outdated devices may not run current applications. Slow or limited internet connections constrain what devices can do. Lack of technical support leaves people unable to resolve problems. Privacy in shared living situations may be lacking for video calls or sensitive transactions. Effective digital access requires not just any device but the right device with appropriate connectivity and support.
The Affordability Challenge
Device Costs
New computers cost hundreds of dollars—a significant expense for households struggling to meet basic needs. Smartphones with adequate capabilities are also expensive, particularly when purchased outright rather than subsidized through contracts. The total cost of digital participation includes not just devices but also internet service, software, and ongoing maintenance and replacement.
Internet Service Costs
Canada has among the highest internet prices in the developed world. Unlimited home internet plans can cost $80-100 monthly or more. Mobile data plans are similarly expensive. For a family choosing between groceries and internet, this is not an easy choice. Some may maintain connectivity intermittently, connecting when they can afford it and disconnecting during difficult months.
Hidden Costs
Beyond direct costs, digital participation involves hidden expenses. Software licenses, cloud storage, printer ink, accessories, repairs, and upgrades all add up. Technical support, whether professional or informal through tech-savvy friends, has value even when unpaid. Learning to use devices takes time—a cost for those working multiple jobs or managing caregiving responsibilities.
Consequences of the Device Divide
Educational Impacts
Education increasingly assumes device access. Homework requires internet research. Assignments are submitted electronically. Learning platforms provide resources and activities. Students without devices or adequate connectivity fall behind. The COVID-19 pandemic's shift to remote learning starkly revealed these disparities, with some students thriving while others were essentially locked out of education.
Employment Barriers
Job searching is largely online. Applications are electronic. Many jobs require basic digital skills that those without device access cannot develop. Remote work opportunities—which expanded during the pandemic and offer flexibility for caregivers and people with disabilities—require device access. Those without devices are excluded from an increasing share of employment opportunities.
Service Access
Government services are moving online—tax filing, benefit applications, health appointments. During the pandemic, vaccine booking required internet access. Organizations assume digital access and may provide limited alternatives. Those without devices must travel to service centres, wait on phone lines, or rely on others to navigate systems on their behalf. This creates burden and undermines autonomy.
Social Connection
Social connection increasingly occurs online. Family members stay in touch through video calls. Communities form around shared interests online. Information spreads through social media. Those without device access may be isolated from social networks and community information. During pandemic lockdowns, device access literally determined whether people could see their loved ones.
Addressing the Gap
Device Provision Programs
Various programs provide devices to those who need them. Libraries lend laptops and tablets. Schools have distributed devices to students. Non-profit organizations collect and refurbish donated computers. Government programs have provided devices during the pandemic. These efforts help but remain insufficient to meet need. They often provide one-time devices without ongoing support or replacement.
Refurbishment and Reuse
Used devices, properly refurbished, can serve many needs at lower cost. Organizations like Computers for Success Canada receive donated equipment, refurbish it, and distribute it to those in need. This approach also addresses electronic waste. But refurbished devices have limitations—shorter lifespans, inability to run the latest software—and supply depends on donations.
Subsidized Connectivity
Some programs subsidize internet access for low-income households. The federal Connecting Families initiative negotiated lower-cost plans with major providers. Some internet service providers offer reduced-rate plans for those on social assistance. These programs help but may not reach all who need them, and even reduced rates may remain unaffordable for the poorest households.
Public Access Points
Libraries, community centres, and other public spaces provide device access and connectivity. These spaces have been essential for those without home access. But public access has limitations—restricted hours, lack of privacy, limited time slots, and travel requirements. During the pandemic, closure of public spaces eliminated access for many.
Policy Considerations
Digital Equity as Essential Service
Some argue that digital access should be treated as an essential service, like water or electricity—too important for participation in modern society to be rationed by ability to pay. This framing suggests that government should ensure universal access, whether through direct provision, subsidy, or regulation of prices. Others resist this framing, arguing that digital access is not a necessity in the same way as basic utilities.
Infrastructure Investment
Connectivity in rural and remote areas requires infrastructure investment that private providers may not find profitable. Federal programs have directed funding toward rural broadband, but gaps remain. Indigenous communities particularly lack adequate infrastructure. Without connectivity, device access is meaningless.
Digital Literacy Alongside Access
Devices without skills to use them provide limited benefit. Digital literacy programs must accompany device provision. Support must be available when people encounter problems. This requires sustained investment in programming and personnel, not just one-time device purchases.
Privacy and Security
Those new to digital environments may be particularly vulnerable to scams, privacy violations, and security breaches. Providing device access without also building capacity for safe use may create new harms. Digital literacy must include privacy and security awareness.
Questions for Further Discussion
- Should digital device access and internet connectivity be treated as essential services that government ensures for all?
- What is the most effective way to provide devices to those who need them—subsidies, provision programs, refurbishment, or other approaches?
- How can digital literacy support be scaled to reach everyone who receives device access?
- What role should private sector companies play in addressing device affordability and access gaps?
- How should device provision programs balance meeting immediate needs with ensuring sustainable, long-term access?