Source: CBC News, March 17, 2016
Council will be asked to choose between two draft versions, one excluding schools
It could soon be an offence in Saskatoon to bully anyone at school, or any public place such as a shopping mall or playground, if city council passes a proposed bylaw.
It’s up for discussion at Monday’s meeting.
“I love it. It’s so needed because it’s a tool that police will have on their tool belt,” said Brian Trainor, a retired police sergeant who now delivers anti-bullying presentations in schools around the province.
The bylaw defines bullying as any unprovoked, repeated and inappropriate comment or action intended to cause harm, fear or distress. It specifically includes such things as name calling, pushing, and gossiping or rumour mongering.
” … a real nice middle ground that allows the police to do something that is more restorative than punishing.”– Brian Trainor, retired Saskatoon police sergeant
No one under the age of 12 can be convicted, as in criminal law.
For anyone above that age, a first offence can result in a fine of up to $300. For second or subsequent convictions the fine is between $300 and $2,500.
However, a charge can also be dealt with through mediation instead of court if certain conditions are met, including the consent of the alleged victim.
“Short of criminal charges, what else can the police do?” Trainor said. “I don’t want to criminalize our kids.”
He called the bylaw “a real nice middle ground that allows the police to do something that is more restorative than punishing.”
He went on to say that often, kids don’t understand the impact of what they’re doing, “and once they’re made aware of it and they can actually learn to feel some empathy for their targets they change. They become better people.”
And, he said schools aren’t always effective in dealing with bullying.
School boards say they have the tools they need
In fact, at Monday’s meeting city council will be presented with two versions of the bylaw, one that will apply to bullying in schools and school sites and another that won’t. City administration is recommending the first version.
In her report to council, a city staff lawyer noted that schools boards and the Restorative Action Plan say they already have “sufficient tools and safeguards in place to address bullying behaviour in schools.” However, both the city solicitor’s office and the chief of police say the bylaw must apply on school property to be effective.
If Saskatoon’s bylaw passes, it could come into effect by September — in time for the next school year.
How Regina’s bylaw compares
Regina has had an anti-bullying and public fighting bylaw since 2006. It does not specifically include gossiping or rumour mongering in its definition of bullying. It does include schools and school grounds in its definition of a public place.
A charge can result in a $100 ticket or a court fine of up to $2,000. There is no provision to divert cases to mediation, but it does allow for participation in an anti-bullying course as an alternative to a fine.