Highlights by Sexual Orientation

Canadians' perceptions of political parties vary meaningfully based on sexual orientation, particularly in terms of ethical values. Among those who identify as gay or bisexual, the NDP receives the highest POLIS score at 3.39, followed by the Liberal Party at 3.17, while the Conservative Party trails significantly at 2.06. This suggests that sexual minority Canadians view the NDP as the most ethically credible party, particularly on values like benevolence, fairness, and legitimacy. The Liberals also perform well in this group, indicating a strong reputation for inclusive and transparent governance.

Among those who identify as straight, the order of party rankings remains the same, but the gaps are narrower. The NDP still leads with a POLIS score of 3.06, followed by the Liberal Party at 3.04, and the Conservative Party at 2.59. While the NDP’s edge is modest in this group, the closeness between the NDP and Liberals suggests that both parties are seen as generally ethical among heterosexual Canadians. The Conservative Party performs slightly better here than among gay or bisexual respondents, but still lags behind its competitors.

The difference in Conservative scores—2.06 among gay or bisexual respondents versus 2.59 among straight respondents—is the most striking divide in the dataset. This suggests that the Conservative Party is perceived as significantly less benevolent, inclusive, or procedurally fair by sexual minorities. These lower evaluations likely reflect concerns about representation, social values, or historical positions taken by the party on LGBTQ+ issues, which may continue to influence ethical perceptions even if current policy positions have evolved.

The Liberal Party’s consistent performance across both groups highlights its reputation for institutional legitimacy and ethical stability. While it does not lead in either group, it maintains a strong second-place position, suggesting broad-based appeal rooted in perceptions of competence, accountability, and fairness. The NDP, meanwhile, performs exceptionally well among sexual minorities, indicating a strong moral reputation among voters who may prioritize inclusivity, justice, and compassion in their political evaluations.

Overall, the data reveal that sexual orientation plays a meaningful role in how Canadians assess the ethical credibility of political parties. The NDP appears to hold a reputational advantage among gay and bisexual respondents, while the Liberals retain cross-group consistency. The Conservative Party, by contrast, faces a significant gap in ethical perception, particularly among sexual minority Canadians. These findings illustrate how lived experiences and social identity can shape not just vote intention, but deeper judgments about political trust and ethical representation as captured by the POLIS Index.