SURVEY METHOD
The survey was carried out by Léger Marketing for the Regroupement pour la Valorisation de la Paternité (a Quebec-based group for promoting fatherhood) using a web-based survey of 2,001 Canadian respondents: 1,000 in Quebec and 1,001 outside Quebec. Survey respondents were fathers of at least one child under the age of 18, and could communicate in both French and English. The data was collected between May 4 and 16, 2021. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of 2,001 respondents has a margin of error of +/- 2.2%, 19 times out of 20.
SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS
From breadwinner to teacher
One of the survey’s most notable findings is how the respondents perceive their role as a father. When asked if they saw themselves as more of a role model, teacher, care provider, protector or breadwinner, “provider” was the first choice for 43% of Canadian fathers, whereas it was the last choice for Quebec fathers (12%). Conversely, 37% of Quebec fathers consider themselves to be teachers, compared to 16% of fathers in other provinces. (TABLE 1)
Sharing family responsibilities more equally
In terms of the division of household chores, 27% of Canadian fathers said that these were always or mainly carried out by their partner, while 17% of Quebec fathers reported that this was the case. As for sharing childcare responsibilities, 31% of Canadian fathers said that these were always or mainly assumed by their partner, compared to 21% of Quebec fathers. (TABLE 2)
Co-parenting and shared custody
Another difference is that 85% of Quebec fathers believe that equal shared custody is the best solution if the relationship ends, compared to 75% of Canadian fathers who think this is the case. Similarly, they are more likely to consider the concept of co-parenting – defined as parents working together as a team to care for their children – to be of the utmost importance (89% of Quebec fathers versus 79% of Canadian fathers). (TABLE 3)
Higher expectations concerning government policies that promote father involvement
The survey focused on two areas of government policy that support fathers’ involvement: parental leave and family-work balance. In both cases, Quebec fathers have higher expectations than their Canadian counterparts. Overall, 77% of Quebec fathers and 65% of Canadian fathers feel it’s very important that fathers be given time off when a child is born, and that they be encouraged to use it. Similarly, 78% of Quebec fathers and 65% of Canadian fathers said that policies to help them balance work and family life were of the utmost importance. (TABLE 4)
What did the pandemic reveal?
Because of the pandemic, the survey explored the impact of confinement on various aspects of family life. Although the health crisis has had a huge impact on families’ daily lives, a majority of fathers – roughly the same number in Quebec as in Canada – say that it has had a positive impact on the time they spend with their children (64% in Quebec, 65% in the rest of Canada) and on the quality of their relationship with their children (50% and 55% respectively). However, proportionally more Canadian fathers reported a positive impact on shared family responsibilities (43% vs. 28% in Quebec), on the relationship with their partner (40% vs. 28%), on their children’s mental health (25% vs. 14%), and on their own mental health (23% vs. 13%), suggesting that the pandemic may have been even more effective at highlighting the fact that another model is possible, one in which fathers and mothers can work together more collaboratively to care for their children. (TABLE 5)
Two cultures, two types of marriage
Which type of marriage they choose reveals another important cultural difference between Quebec fathers and those in other provinces. Quebec fathers are equally divided between married (51%) and common-law fathers (49%), whereas in other provinces, traditional marriage still largely dominates, with 90% of married fathers and 10% common-law fathers. (TABLE 6)
Survey tables
(Note: percentages in red indicate a significantly lower proportion than that of other respondents, whereas percentages in green indicate a proportion that is significantly higher than that of other respondents.)
Table 1 – Fathers’ perception of their role
For you, being a father is first and foremost being a … (two possible choices*) | QUEBEC (n=1,000) | OTHER CANADIAN PROVINCES (n=1,001) |
|---|---|---|
Role model | 48% | 39% |
Care provider | 45% | 40% |
Protector | 39% | 36% |
Breadwinner | 12% | 43% |
Teacher | 37% | 16% |
Table 2 – Sharing family responsibilities
a) Household chores
Who does the housework in your household, i.e., laundry, meals, dishes, cleaning the house, picking up toys and clothes, etc.? Frame: fathers currently in a relationship | QUEBEC (n=898) | OTHER CANADIAN PROVINCES (n=940) |
|---|---|---|
Always your partner | 1% | 4% |
Mostly your partner | 16% | 23% |
Shared equally | 69% | 61% |
Mostly you | 11% | 9% |
Always you | 2% | 2% |
b) Childcare responsibilities
Who provides the childcare in your household, i.e., changing diapers or bathing a baby, supervising a preschooler’s morning and bedtime routine, helping a school-age child with homework, discussing important issues with a teenager. Frame: fathers currently in a relationship | QUEBEC (n=898) | OTHER CANADIAN PROVINCES (n=940) |
|---|---|---|
Always your partner | 2% | 4% |
Mostly your partner | 19% | 27% |
Shared equally | 71% | 62% |
Mostly you | 6% | 5% |
Always you | 2% | 2% |
Table 3 – Co-parenting and shared custody
To what extent do you agree with the following statement Both parents need to work together as a team to care for their children, i.e., all important decisions should be made together. | QUEBEC (n=1000) | OTHER CANADIAN PROVINCES (n=1001) |
|---|---|---|
Strongly agree | 89% | 79% |
Somewhat agree | 10% | 21% |
Somewhat disagree | 0% | 0% |
Strongly disagree | 0% | 0% |
When two parents separate, what do you think is the best custody solution? | QUEBEC (n=1000) | OTHER CANADIAN PROVINCES (n=1001) |
|---|---|---|
Shared custody, where the child spends more or less the same amount of time with each parent | 85% | 75% |
Primary custody granted to one parent, and shorter stays (every other weekend, for example) with the other parent | 9% | 14% |
Other | 6% | 10% |
Table 4 – Expectations with respect to government policies
How important do you think it is for fathers to be given parental leave when their child is born, and be encouraged to use it? | QUEBEC (n=1,000) | OTHER CANADIAN PROVINCES (n=1,001) |
|---|---|---|
Very important | 77% | 65% |
Somewhat important | 20% | 31% |
Not very important | 3% | 4% |
Not at all important | 0% | 1% |
How important do you think it is for fathers to have access to workplace programs that support family/work balance, and be encouraged to use them? | QUEBEC (n=1,000) | OTHER CANADIAN PROVINCES (n=1,001) |
|---|---|---|
Very important | 78% | 65% |
Somewhat important | 20% | 32% |
Not very important | 2% | 2% |
Not at all important | 1% | 1% |
Table 5 – Pandemic impacts
Did the COVID-19 pandemic have a positive, negative or no impact on: PERCENTAGES INDICATING A POSITIVE IMPACT LISTED | QUEBEC (n=1,000) | OTHER CANADIAN PROVINCES (n=1,001) |
|---|---|---|
Time spent with your children? | 64% | 65% |
Your relationship with your children? | 50% | 55% |
The division of family responsibilities between you and your partner | 28% | 43% |
Your relationship with your partner? | 28% | 40% |
Your children’s mental health? | 14% | 25% |
Your own mental health? | 13% | 23% |
Table 6 – Types of marriage
Are you married or in a common-law relationship? Frame: fathers still in a relationship with the child’s mother (or other parent) | QUEBEC (n=800) | OTHER CANADIAN PROVINCES (n=882) |
|---|---|---|
Married | 51% | 90% |
In a common-law relationship | 49% | 10% |