OTTAWA - Threatening to throw the book at young people who bully
others online likely won't stop them from picking on their
peers, an anti-bullying activist says. That's because youngsters
often don't make the connection between illegal acts and their
consequences, said Bill Belsey of Bullying.org, an international
project that educates people on bullying. "Prevention needs to
be our priority," he said. A private members' bill aims to amend
the Criminal Code to recognize cyberbullying as an offence.
Liberal MP Hedy Fry introduced Bill C-237 in September 2011 as a
response to the rising trend of bullying through text messaging,
social media and other online forums. On Wednesday,
Conservatives on a House of Commons committee voted against
Fry's bill after witnesses raised concerns about it. Witnesses
at the committee called for government support, centred on
education and prevention, rather than criminal legislation.
"This would have a modest effect on most teens because it fails
to understand the teenage brain