As Canadians debate the right response to a case of cyber bullying that
may have pushed B.C. teenager Amanda Todd to take her own life,
lawmakers will consider a motion that seeks to lay the groundwork for a
national bullying prevention strategy in the House of Commons Monday.
But the father of a teen who took his own life because of bullying says
it’s time for action, not another study.

NDP MP Dany Morin will introduce the motion aimed at building an
all-party committee of MPs to study the prevalence of bullying and help
build a framework for a national anti-bullying strategy.

Canada does not presently have a national bullying prevention strategy.

Morin’s motion will be introduced just a few days after Todd was found
dead in her Port Coquitlam home Wednesday. Police say suicide was the
cause of death and the RCMP are currently investigating the case.

Todd, 15, posted a video to YouTube in early September in which she
described her pain and suffering as a long-time victim of bullying, much
of it through online social media.

Her death has prompted calls for stronger action against bullying,
including B.C. Premier Christy Clark who said Friday that it may be time
to consider criminalizing such behaviour online.

But Morin told CTV’s Question Period that his motion does not seek
criminalization of bullying. The MP, who admitted to being bullied
during his teen years, said criminalization is not the answer.

“I was bullied as a teenager,” he said in an interview Sunday.

“I know firsthand what bullying really is like. But when the harm has
been done, when a kid has been bullied for years, bringing the criminal
charges to the bully will not solve the problem. The harm has been done.
That’s why I want the special committee to focus on prevention.”

Morin’s motion calls for the study of the scope of bullying in Canada,
as well as increased funding and support for organizations that work to
prevent it.

One bullying victim said a national strategy against bullying is a step in the right direction.

Julia Kiroauc tried to end her own life with a bottle of pills when she
was bullied after her ex-boyfriend posted a nude photo of her on
Facebook.

Kiroauc credits counselling with helping her get through her ordeal.

“How many teenage girls and boys are going to kill themselves,” said
Kiroauc’s mother, Deborah Doucette, “before we say, ‘my god, we have to
take responsibility for these children?’”

But Ottawa city councillor Allan Hubley said that the problems posed by bullying demand action and not more study.

Hubley lost his own teen son to suicide in October 2011, and says the
time and money spent debating and studying the issue would be better
spent investing in the front line resources which help teens at risk of
suicide.

“There is a time for action now, instead of another study or anything
like that,” he said. “We have a definition of bullying. We already know a
lot of the resources that can help bullying. But the frontline
resources that will help these kids when they need it most, at that
moment they’re about to make that decision, they are underfunded. That’s
where we need to put our energies and our efforts.”

Hubley’s son, Jamie, committed suicide at the age of 15. Jamie, who was
openly gay, was bullied for years and fought depression.

Hubley, who is preparing to mark the first anniversary of his son’s
death, said he believes it will take the involvement of the entire
community to stop bullying, and not legislation alone.

“It’s time for the community to take responsibility and everyone get
involved and say ‘Enough, no more bullying,’” he said. “We need
everybody to be willing to help each other and respect each other.”

Hubley believes that, much like drinking and driving, once society
attaches a stigma to bullying it will cease to be popular or a “cool
thing” to do.

“We as a society have to say ‘We are all going to do our part to stop this,’” he said.

During the interview, Hubley wore a unicorn pin on his lapel in memory of his son.

“Jamie said that he wanted to be remembered as a unicorn, different on
the outside, but beautiful on the inside,” he said. “So I wear my
unicorn to remember my boy. Everything I’m doing is for him.”


http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/in-wake-of-amanda-todd-suicide-mps-to-debate-anti-bullying-motion-1.995254