McGuinty Government is giving Bullied Students hope

Tougher consequences for bullying and hate-motivated actions - up to, and including, expulsion.

Requiring all schools to support any students who want to lead activities that promote understanding, acceptance and respect for all.

Requiring school boards to develop policies and guidelines that include greater supports for students.

“For our kids to learn and reach their full potential they need to feel safe, secure and free to be who they are in our schools. Too many of our kids are being bullied and we all need to do more than just tell them it gets better - we need to work together to make it better now,” said Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario

“We have taught our children three fundamental “Rs” in school - Reading, Writing and Arithmetic - but now we need to also focus on the fourth “R” -Relationships,” added Laurel Broten, Minister of Education

QUICK FACTS

Ontario was the first province in Canada to legally require school staff to report serious student incidents to principals.

Bullying is a form of repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour intended to cause fear, distress, or harm to another person’s body, feelings, self-esteem or reputation.

A 2011 national survey found that 64 per cent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) students and 61 per cent of students with LGBTQ parents feel unsafe at school.