Highlights by Children in Household

When comparing Canadians with and without children in their household, important differences emerge in how political parties are perceived on ethical values. Among those without children, the NDP is rated highest on the POLIS Index, with a score of 3.14 out of 5, followed by the Liberal Party at 3.08, and the Conservative Party at 2.44. This reflects a pattern observed in other parts of the dataset: Canadians without children tend to see the NDP as the party that most strongly embodies values like benevolence, fairness, and integrity, while viewing the Conservatives as less aligned with these ethical standards.

Among those with one or more children in the household, the rankings remain the same, but the margins narrow. The NDP still leads with a POLIS score of 3.08, but the Liberals are close behind at 3.06, and the Conservatives improve modestly to 2.61. This suggests that Canadians with children may be somewhat more favorable toward the ethical image of the Conservative Party than those without children, though the party still trails its competitors. Notably, the Liberal Party’s score remains stable across both groups, suggesting a consistent ethical perception regardless of family status.

A deeper look at the value-level scores may explain these shifts. Parents may place greater weight on values such as competence, accountability, and stability, especially when assessing which parties are most capable of supporting family needs, education, healthcare, and long-term policy delivery. This could explain the Conservatives’ slight bump in perceived ethical credibility among respondents with children. Meanwhile, the NDP continues to be seen as benevolent and fair, which may resonate more with those without dependents, who may prioritize idealism and justice-based values.

The Liberals’ stability across both groups suggests they are seen as institutionally legitimate and broadly representative, even if not always rated highest on any single ethical dimension. Their near parity with the NDP among parents may indicate that Liberal messaging—often centered around childcare, family support, and institutional continuity—resonates with those navigating the responsibilities of raising children. However, their inability to surpass the NDP, even among this group, points to persistent concerns about transparency or accountability that may linger despite policy offerings.

Overall, these findings suggest that family status subtly shapes the ethical lens through which voters assess political parties. The NDP maintains a reputational advantage in terms of ethical values overall, but the gap closes significantly among parents, for whom pragmatic concerns about governance may play a larger role. The Conservatives, while still rated lowest, benefit from a relative uptick among households with children, signaling a potential perception of competence or order that resonates in family-oriented contexts. These differences underscore the importance of understanding how life stage and responsibilities influence value-based political judgments.