WINNIPEG — Manitoba’s controversial anti-bully bill is now law — Bill 18, bitterly debated since spring, was proclaimed Thursday.
The law was designed to make schools more welcoming for gay students and crack down on the personal harassment and online torment that has driven some teens to suicide.
The law requires teachers to immediately report bullying and cyberbullying to the school principal. A guilty student can be warned, suspended or expelled — the bill doesn’t specify what punishment should be applied.
“They are the professionals, they are the ones that make the determination in regards to what will happen in those situations,” said Education Minister Nancy Allan.
While students hope for change, many doubt it will come.
“Every high school has bullying and it’s really sad to see,” said Arabella Moore, a Grade 10 student at Kelvin High School.
Nia Hotreski, also a Grade 10 student at Kelvin, doesn’t think the bill will protect all students, especially those bullied for what they wear or how they look.
“They (bullies) call people names, like if they’re wearing something weird, they’ll make fun of what they’re wearing,” she said.
Parents said they worry about the way students hide bullying.
“I think a lot of it is still going to be hidden both from parents and the administration. Having a law isn’t really going to change what happens at the school level,” said parent Brian Goodman.
The bill also requires schools to allow students to form gay-straight alliances, something Grade 11 student Alex Tivoli said will help him because he was bullied for being gay.
“It kind of sucks, to be honest,” said Tivoli, “especially when you’re friends with someone that uses ‘That’s so gay’ all the time. It brings you down.”
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