Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Most of us have our own memories of bullying. Some of us probably have been bullied. I’m sure a few of us have helped defend someone against bullying. I’m guessing none of us have actually been bullies. The victims of bullying feel hurt, stress, humiliation, fear and even depression. Some attacks that pass as bullying might more accurately be called assault. It really saddens me to think that this still goes on in our schools and our schoolyards, not to mention cyberspace.
I know that since 2001, the Department of Education has had some sources to help schools and school boards that decide to implement their own programs against bullying. Diamond Jenness School in Hay River started down this road in 2009, as outlined in its education plan. But this voluntary system is not the solution to the problem.
I think that we need to adopt strong measures. The Education Minister has heard about bullying problems in every region, as he acknowledged in his Aboriginal Student Achievement Education Plan.
Bullying is also a factor in poor student school attendance. So the Minister has heard from students, teachers and parents. I do not know what is standing in the way of a territorial-wide policy against bullying and implementing a system to discipline the bullies.
It is very basic, Mr. Speaker. When are we going to stand up next to our courageous young people who help protect each other from bullies? When are we going to shoulder our share of the responsibility to provide a healthy school environment? We cannot leave these brave students and teachers alone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
