Anne J. MacArthur Public School students hung on every word, as Halton MP Lisa Raitt discussed new federal legislation against cyberbullying this morning.
Grade seven and eights gathered in the school library on ‘Day of Pink’, devoted to ending bullying and discrimination, to listen and ask questions about a law prohibiting online harassment and the impacts of cyberbullying.
Bill C-13, Protecting Canadians from Online Crime, was enacted in March to combat online harassment, making it illegal to distribute intimate images of people without consent.
Raitt, on behalf of Justice Minister Peter MacKay, informed students that sending inappropriate texts or posting pictures of someone without permission could result in a five-year jail sentence. She also made sure they understood the personal damage cyberbullying could inflict on someone.
She recounted the tragic stories of Rehtaeh Parsons and Amanda Todd, two young girls who committed suicide as a result of cyberbullying.
“There’s a lot more pressure nowadays because it (bullying) comes home with you,” said Raitt.
According to PREVNet, an umbrella network of 128 leading Canadian research scientists and 61 national youth-serving organizations to prevent bullying, one in three youths report they have been cyberbullied, with 25 per cent admitting to participating in the act.
Raitt, minister of transport, asked the students how many owned handheld devices. The entire room, composed of roughly 70 kids around 12 and 13 years old, raised their hands. When Raitt asked how many used these devices to send or receive a mean text, about half nodded their heads or raised their hands.
“Don’t be a bystander and don’t let it happen,” urged Raitt.
Raitt advised the kids to report any inappropriate online behaviour to their teachers or, if the situation warrants, to police.
Bill C-13 has fallen under heat from critics, who see it as an invasion of privacy because police only need “reasonable grounds for suspicion” to obtain information about an Internet user.
Raitt said when it comes to invasion of privacy, the person with the most at stake when it comes to cyberbullying is the victim.
Bill C-13 empowers the courts to order the removal of the image from the internet, order forfeiture of the computer, cell phone or other device, pay restitution to the victim or make an order to prevent someone from distributing intimate images.
The law has yet to be used in criminal proceedings and the MP hopes it will work pre-emptively to stop cyberbullying before people are hurt.
She advised students and teachers to check out www.cybertip.ca or getcybersafe.gc.ca for more information.
Rachael Williams can be reached at rwillams@miltoncanadianchampion.com or on Twitter @MiltonReports.
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