HALIFAX, NS – PC Education critic Eddie Orrell expressed disappointment today with the NDP’s response to the Report of the Nova Scotia Task Force on Bullying and Cyberbullying and the Education Minister’s response to legislation introduced yesterday by the PC Party.

“The response from the government doesn’t go far enough, fast enough,” said Orrell. “We’re supportive of the fact government is taking some beginning steps, but their response falls far short of the action we had hoped to see.”  

The Minister attempted to embellish her legislation by claiming it is the first in North America to track cyberbullying, but Ontario legislation already provides for that. The Minister also spent time in her speech in the House attacking the PC Party's proposed laws instead of speaking to the value of her own.

Orrell said the NDP’s legislation is a missed opportunity to “get it right” on bullying and cyberbullying.

“Collecting data is important to measure results, but the NDP are long overdue in bringing forward real accountability measures and restorative measures,” said Orrell. “I think the NDP government should reconsider the legislation we brought forward and support it, so Nova Scotians can get the action they have been expecting and deserve.”  

In a media scrum earlier today, Cyberbullying Task Force chair Wayne MacKay was supportive of PC legislation. He said "One of the things that was certainly true in the proposed Tory legislation was some very specific action with accountability on parents, accountability on school boards, accountability on schools and I think there does need to be some action measures while you measure the data."   

The PC Party is not standing by as the NDP slowly and inadequately react to bullying in our schools and online. Proposed legislation from the PC’s makes bullying and cyberbullying an offence. Fines, confiscation of electronic devices, community service or alternative measures await those who partake in online bullying if new Progressive Conservative legislation becomes law.

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