Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to Mr. Moses.

Public Comments – A Discussion

The Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted an active and thorough review of this bill. For the first time in the history of the Northwest Territories, the committee held hearings in schools to solicit the views of students. To facilitate discussion and openness, the format was much less formal than a typical public hearing on a bill.

These sessions took place at the Diamond Jenness Secondary School in Hay River, Ecole Sir John Franklin High School in Yellowknife, Mackenzie Mountain School in Norman Wells, and the East Three Secondary School in Inuvik. An additional session was done with a video e-learning link to a class in Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk. Members thank the many thoughtful students and teachers who took part, as it represents a new milestone in our territory’s democratic progress.

The committee’s small survey amplifies the findings of the independent research cited earlier. Virtually every student had been bullied or had seen bullying at school. A much smaller but very encouraging number – perhaps half – had reported bullying. This speaks to the timeliness of Bill 12 and the need to take positive action.

Students’ comments at the various schools had much in common, but differences were evident including issues related to the size of the community and student body.

In each school, students provided at least one new and useful idea for the committee to consider and sometimes more.

For example, in Hay River a student suggested that schools identify a group of students willing to speak up about bullying incidents on behalf of others. They also suggested bringing in motivational speakers to address bullying issues.

Empowering victims and bystanders to report bullying or even to intervene in some cases was a key theme among students. As one young woman put it at East Three Secondary School in Inuvik, “what I hate the most is that nobody ever does anything about it. They just stand and watch.” The territorial code of conduct and safe schools plans should address this issue, ensuring support to

bystanders who come forward. Students must know help is easy to get. The committee encountered some who said they did not even know who to go to for help.

I would like to now pass the reading of the report to my colleague Mrs. Groenewegen.