This is a presentation prepared for #IAMCR 2018 at the University of Oregon, Eugine, USA

1. Impact of the digital divide in
Canadian immigrants in accessing &
using government online services:
A study on Nepali Immigrants
Bhanu Bhakta Acharya
University of Ottawa
August 3-4, 2019

2. This is a …

3. Overview
Immigration to Canada
– Multiculturalism is a character
and the foundation of Canada
since its inception 150 years
ago.
– Canada’s immigration
objectives (IRPA, 2001):
• (a) pursuing max benefits of
immigration,
• (b) strengthening Canada's
multicultural character,
• (c) supporting the development
of Canada's economy through
replacing aging population, and
fulfilling employee shortage

5. Canada’s e-Govt Program
• For equal opportunities to all, and
for facilitating citizen
integration into Canadian economy
• Provides customized and integrated
services, such as CRA Log in
• Connects citizens through various apps
• Fosters online public participation for
co-production and co-creation of public
services and policies
• It can facilitate immigrant integration
smoothly (settling life into a host
country), and promote citizen
engagement (Haight et al, 2014;
Barth & Veit, 2011).

6. Immigrants & Digital Divide
• Recent immigrants to Canada are from Asian (48.1%) and African
(13.4%) countries that are severely affected by the digital divide.
• Immigrants from these countries, therefore, are less likely to be
familiar with accessing government services through online.
• These immigrants may lag behind Canadian counterparts in terms
of getting employment and grasping other opportunities because
the former are affected from various forms of DD:
– unfamiliarity with e-government program,
– Limited or no ICT skills and knowledge,
– A lack of proficiency of host-country languages (English/French)
• Consequently, recent immigrants, due to various forms of the
digital divide, may further marginalize and face challenges
integrating into life in this country.

7. Nepali immigrants in Canada
• Nepal is badly affected from
the digital divide. It has 21.2%
Internet penetration rate as
of June 2017; Nepal is 89th in
e-government ranking (UN
Survey)
• Nepali immigrants, therefore,
likely to be affected from the
digital divide in their country
of origin, and in Canada

8. Research Questions
• In what ways are recent Nepali immigrants to Canada
experiencing difficulties in accessing and using online
services provided by the federal, provincial, and
municipal governments?
A. What factors motivate recent immigrants to use or non-
use government online services?
B. What are the main differences between recent
immigrants and earlier- &/or non-immigrants with regard
to their respective use of online services provided by
federal, provincial, and municipal governments?
C. What are the key factors perpetuating these differences?

9. Theoretical Framework
The Capability Approach
• Major concerns of the CA:
– If people have adequate choice for what they would like to be,
and they are able to make such choices,
– If real opportunities are available, and people are able to grasp
these opportunities,
– If people suffer from social injustices and inequalities
• CA: An alternative approach to welfare economics. Sen’s
efforts at redressing perceived shortcomings in Bentham’s
(1772) utilitarianism & Rawl’s theory of justice (1971)
• Key message: Individuals have dissimilar capabilities, & should be
treated differently

10. • Ability to access to online
government services
• Ability to navigate e-
government websites and
services
• Ability to conduct financial
transaction & economic
exchanges
• Ability to engage in public
activities of a
communication
Operationalizing the CA

11. Methods: What & Why
• Will follow Creswell’s Explanatory Sequential Design, in particular,
to conduct data collection and analysis (first survey, then interview)
• Mixed methods approach (Quan+Qual) (approx. 200
immigrants/Nepalis) and 15-20 semi structured interviews
• Ottawa and GTA, 18 years and older, Nepalis by origin, recent or
earlier- and/or non-immigrants

12. Preliminary findings
• Questionnaire Survey
– 261 respondents from
14 cities
– 61 respondents (2009
or earlier)
– 200 respondents (2010
or later)
– Descriptive and
statistical analysis
conducted
• Key trends
– Recent vs early
immigrants have no
difference
– English Language & ICT
skills influences use of
GOS portals
– Respondents with
higher Englg & ICT
skills more likely to use
GOS platforms

13. Digital Divide Exists

14. Possible contribution
• understand the experiences of Nepali immigrants
in accessing/using e-govt services
• help to understand factors influencing potential
differences between these two groups of
immigrants (recent vs earlier-/non-immigrants)
• contribute in assessing the CA as a conceptual
framework for investigating the use of online
services at different levels of government in
Canada

16. Thank you for listening