Focus On "Accepting" Or "Anti-Bullying" In Schools?

As of May 3, 2012, Bill 13, Accepting Schools Act, 2011, has passed second reading, and referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy. Bill 14, the Anti-Bullying Act, 2012, a parallel private member's bill, was ordered reinstated at the Standing Committee on Social Policy, also to be considered in the public debates. Central to both bills is the introduction of amendments to the Education Act, aimed at addressing bullying in the public school system, though each has a markedly different focus. Dates for public hearings have been scheduled for clause-by-clause discussion of the bills.

The Liberal government's introduction of Bill 13 came soon after Ontario witnessed the tragic suicides of two of its pupils in the late fall of 2011: 15 year old James Hubley in Ottawa, and 11-year old Mitchell Wilson in Pickering. Both had experienced bullying at school, James because he was openly gay, and Mitchell partly due to his physical disability. James' desire to start