Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Good job.

Conclusion

It is the considered opinion of the Standing Committee on Social Programs that the bill is a reasonable first step in the NWT’s efforts to prevent

bullying. However, it cannot be the last step. In fact, committee members expected more and so do residents of our territory. Further work must address the root causes of bullying.

It is significant that Bill 12 does not amend the Education Act to prohibit bullying outright. This surprised some students. In Inuvik, for example, one said, “It should be law. It’s wrong.” It is hard to argue with such straightforward logic. This should be considered in any subsequent legislation related to bullying.

At this time, the Standing Committee on Social Programs advises that it supports Bill 12 as presented to Committee of the Whole.