Anti-Bullying Bylaw proposed

Following the February 10, 2014 direction of Saskatoon City Council, the City Solicitor has drafted an anti-bullying bylaw.  A report will be presented at Council’s regular business meeting Monday, March 21.

“The intent of the Bylaw is to recognize the role of all levels of government and community agencies in combatting bullying and in creating a positive environment,” says City Solicitor Patricia Warwick.  “To that end, one of the Bylaw’s purposes is to complement the education, prevention and awareness initiatives administered through the school system.”

The City consulted interested stakeholders in advance of submitting the Bylaw for consideration. 

The main elements of the Bylaw include:

*A definition of bullying which means: any unprovoked, repeated and inappropriate comment or conduct by a person which causes, which is intended to cause or which the person ought reasonably to know will cause harm, fear or physical or psychological distress to another person, including:
 -taunting, tormenting, name calling, ridiculing, insulting, mocking and directing slurs towards another person;
 -kicking, pushing, hair pulling or pinching another person; and
 -shunning, ostracizing, excluding another person and gossiping or rumour mongering about another person;

*Prohibitions against bullying in a public place and aiding, abetting or encouraging the bullying of another person;

*Recognition of the Chief of Police as the authority responsible for enforcement;

*The requirement that a parent or guardian appear in court with a young person (defined as between the ages of 12 and 18 years) charged under the Bylaw;

*The ability to participate in mediation to deal with charges as an alternative to the court process; and

*A definition of “public place” that includes any place to which the public has access as of right or by express or implied invitation. One draft includes schools and school sites in its definition. The other specifically excludes these places except outside of school hours.

If approved, the proposed effective date of the Bylaw is September 1, 2016, which will permit implementation of an awareness campaign and provide time for an appropriate mediation program to be developed to handle the diversion of matters from the court process.