The Internet digital divide in Canada doesn't appear to be getting any smaller, according to figures from StatsCan released today. Lower income households are still less likely to use the Internet compared to those with higher incomes. "The vast majority (91%) of people in the top quintile (more than $95,000) used the Internet," reads StatsCan's The Daily. "This was almost twice the proportion of 47% for the lowest quintile (less than $24,000)." StatsCan notes that the gap in use has narrowed slightly since 2005.

While there is still a gap in Internet use, StatsCan says that usage is generally up with almost three-quarters (73%), or 19.2 million Canadians aged 16 and older, going online for personal reasons during the 12 months prior to the survey. Two years ago, this level was slightly higher than two-thirds (68%).

High-speed Internet connections are up as well with 88% of household users saying they accessed the Internet with a broadband connection, up from 80% two years ago.

Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia lead the way in terms of Internet usage with rates above the national average of 73%. "Rates in the two western provinces were boosted by high usage in major census metropolitan areas. In Calgary, 85% of people aged 16 and older used the Internet, as did 83% in Victoria, and 78% in both Vancouver and Edmonton," reads The Daily.