Lesson 15: The Digital Divide 

1. Introduction to the Digital Divide

What is the Digital Divide?

The digital divide is the gap between people who have access to technology like the internet and those who don’t. Some people live in places where they can easily get online to use the internet, while others don’t have that same access. This makes it harder for them to use technology to learn, work, or stay connected with friends.

Imagine this: You have homework, and your teacher asks you to look up something online. If you don’t have the internet, you might struggle to finish your assignment, while someone else who has a fast internet connection can do it easily. This is just one example of how the digital divide can make life harder for some people.

Why Does This Happen?

The digital divide happens for a few different reasons. Some people live in big cities where it’s easy to get high-speed internet. Others live in rural or remote areas where it’s much harder to get online. In places like Southern Saskatchewan, people living in cities might have great internet access, but people living in small towns or on farms might not.

Another reason is money. Having a computer, a smartphone, or a fast internet connection costs money. If someone can’t afford these things, they might be left behind. The digital divide is a big problem, not just in Canada but all around the world.

Canada and the Digital Divide

Even in a developed country like Canada, the digital divide is still a problem. In many rural areas, including parts of Saskatchewan, internet access is slower or less reliable than in big cities like Toronto or Vancouver. While Canada has tried to improve internet access for everyone, there are still many places where the digital divide exists.

2. Why Does the Digital Divide Happen?

The digital divide happens for a few different reasons. These reasons make it harder for some people to use the internet or get the technology they need. Let’s take a look at three big reasons why the digital divide exists.

1. Money Matters

One big reason for the digital divide is money. Technology is expensive. To get online, people need devices like computers, smartphones, or tablets, and they need to pay for internet access. Some people can easily afford these things, but others cannot. When people don’t have enough money to buy the tools they need, they get left out.

For example, imagine two families in Saskatchewan. One family lives in a city and has enough money to pay for high-speed internet and new devices. The other family lives in a small town and can only afford an old computer with slow internet. The second family can’t use the internet as easily. This creates a gap between people who have access and those who don’t.

2. Where People Live

Another reason the digital divide exists is location. People who live in big cities usually have better access to the internet than those who live in small towns or rural areas. In cities, it’s easy to set up internet cables and cell towers. But in rural areas, where there are fewer people, companies don’t always want to spend the money to build the infrastructure needed for fast internet. This leaves people in rural areas with slower or less reliable connections.

In Saskatchewan, people in places like Regina or Saskatoon might have fast internet, while people living in small towns or on farms might struggle to get online. This makes it harder for them to do things like schoolwork, apply for jobs, or even watch movies online.

3. Access to Technology

Finally, the digital divide happens because some places don’t have the infrastructure needed for high-speed internet. Infrastructure refers to the cables, cell towers, and other technology that makes the internet work. In rural areas, these things might not be built yet, or they might be old and slow.

For example, in some remote parts of Canada, including certain areas in Saskatchewan, the infrastructure isn’t good enough to provide fast internet. Even if people have devices like computers, they might still struggle to get online because their connection is slow.

3. Why the Digital Divide is a Big Deal

The digital divide is more than just about who can or cannot use the internet. It has real effects on people’s lives. Here are some reasons why the digital divide is a big deal.

1. Education

The internet is an important tool for learning. Students use it to research, do homework, and even attend online classes. But what happens if a student doesn’t have access to the internet? They fall behind. This is especially a problem in rural areas where the internet might be slow or not available at all.

For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, schools in Canada, including in Saskatchewan, had to move to online learning. Students in cities with fast internet could easily attend classes on Zoom or look up information online. But students in rural areas, or those without good internet, struggled to keep up with their lessons. Some couldn’t attend class at all, which hurt their education.

2. Jobs and the Economy

The digital divide also affects people’s chances of getting a job. Many jobs today require basic computer skills and internet access. Some people can apply for jobs online, work from home, or even run their own business using the internet. But for those without access to technology, finding a good job can be much harder.

Imagine someone in rural Saskatchewan who wants to apply for a job. If they don’t have internet access, they might miss out on job postings or not be able to submit their application online. This puts them at a disadvantage compared to people who live in cities and can apply for jobs more easily. In the long run, this also affects the economy because fewer people can find work and contribute to the community.

3. Social Connections

The internet helps people stay connected with family and friends, especially when they live far apart. Social media, messaging apps, and video calls make it easier to talk to people no matter where they are. But for those without access to the internet, it can be hard to stay in touch.

For example, a student in a rural part of Saskatchewan might not be able to video chat with their friends who live in the city. They could feel isolated because they can’t participate in online group chats or social media. This makes it harder for them to stay connected with their peers.

4. Health and Safety

The internet also plays a role in accessing healthcare. People can look up health information, schedule appointments, or even attend virtual doctor visits online. But without internet access, people in rural areas may struggle to get the medical help they need. This is especially true in places where healthcare is already limited, such as remote parts of Canada.

4. The Digital Divide in Canada

How is Canada Fixing the Digital Divide?

In Canada, the digital divide is a big problem, especially in rural (country) and remote areas. The government is working to make sure that more people can have access to the internet, no matter where they live.

One of the main programs Canada created to fix this is called the Universal Broadband Fund. This fund helps bring high-speed internet to small towns and faraway communities. The goal is to give 98% of Canadians high-speed internet by 2026, and 100% by 2030. That means everyone, even people living on farms or in tiny towns, should have fast internet in a few years.

There is also a program called Connecting Families, which helps low-income families (families who don’t have a lot of money) get cheap internet. For just $10 a month, these families can have high-speed internet, which helps kids do schoolwork and stay connected with friends. This makes sure that even families without much money don’t get left behind.

Indigenous Communities and the Digital Divide

Many Indigenous communities (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people) are especially affected by the digital divide. Many of them live in remote areas where the internet is very slow or doesn’t exist at all. This makes it hard to access things like education, healthcare, and jobs.

The Canadian government has made some progress in improving the situation for Indigenous people. For example, they set aside money to build better internet infrastructure, like cables and towers, in Indigenous communities. But there is still a lot more work to do to get everyone connected.

Some Indigenous groups are also taking things into their own hands. In Northern Ontario, for example, the Matawa First Nations started their own project to bring fast and reliable internet to their communities. This helps people in these areas stay connected and access the same opportunities as people in cities.

The Situation in Rural Saskatchewan

In Saskatchewan, many rural areas still struggle with slow or no internet access. Cities like Regina and Saskatoon have fast, high-speed internet, but people living in small towns or on farms often don’t. This makes it harder for them to do homework, run businesses, or even watch videos online.

The Saskatchewan government, together with the federal government, is trying to fix this problem. They are working on programs like the Universal Broadband Fund to build more internet towers and connect rural areas to the internet. In 2020, they promised to spend millions of dollars to make internet faster and better across the province.

For example, in a small town like Lumsden, internet speed might be much slower than in big cities like Saskatoon. This makes it hard for people to use the internet for important things like school or work.

How Many Canadians Have Internet Access?

According to a report from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), about 87% of Canadian homes had high-speed internet in 2021. But in rural areas, only 46% of homes had good internet. This shows that while many people in cities have fast internet, a lot of people in the countryside are still left out.

In Saskatchewan, most people in cities have good internet, but in rural areas, many are still waiting for faster connections. The government hopes to improve this soon by building more internet towers and laying down more cables.

5. What Can Be Done Globally to Fix the Digital Divide?

The digital divide isn’t just a problem in Canada. Many countries around the world struggle with this issue. But there are efforts being made to fix the divide and give more people access to the internet. Let’s look at some of the ways this is happening around the world.

1. Global Efforts

Organizations like the United Nations (UN) are working to solve the digital divide on a global scale. The UN has set goals to make sure that everyone in the world has access to the internet by 2030. They believe that the internet is a basic human right, like education or clean water. That’s why they are working with countries to help them improve their technology and give more people access to the internet.

2. Tech Companies

Big tech companies are also trying to solve this problem. For example, Google has been working on a project to bring the internet to remote areas by using giant balloons that float high in the sky. These balloons can send internet signals to places that don’t have cables or cell towers.

Another example is Starlink, a project from Elon Musk’s company SpaceX. Starlink is launching thousands of small satellites into space. These satellites send the internet to Earth, even in places where there are no cell towers. People in remote areas can use a small dish to connect to the internet, even if they live far away from cities.

3. Comparing Canada to Other Countries

Canada is doing a lot to bridge the digital divide, but there are some countries that are already doing better. For example, in South Korea, almost everyone has access to fast internet, even in rural areas. South Korea is one of the most connected countries in the world.

On the other hand, some countries in Africa are still far behind when it comes to internet access. In many places, the infrastructure for the internet just isn’t there. People might not have electricity, let alone internet access. Organizations like the UN and big tech companies are trying to help, but it will take time to get everyone connected.

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