The activities and behaviors of Canadians online closely resemble those of Americans, a study by eMarketer finds.

eMarketers' Canada Online discovered that 58 percent of Canadians have internet access, just below 63 percent in the U.S. The online purchase habits of Canadians are also similar to those of Americans: 78 percent of Canadians shop online, just below 83 percent in the case of Americans. Also, 83 percent of Canadians as well as Americans search online.

More Canadians - 66 percent buy online - compared with 56 percent of Americans. Interestingly, more Canadians (59 percent) that Americans (44 percent) have broadband access.

These statistics bolster the notion that marketers are beginning to turn their attention to the Canadian market. According to Statistics Canada, for four years in a row the overall value of e-commerce sales in Canada has increased 38 percent or more. Moreover, the increase in online sales was six times the increase in overall retail sales in Canada in 2005.