In the wake of the recent suicide of 15-year-old Amanda Todd of Port Coquitlam, B.C., Wild Rose MP Blake Richards is urging Canadians to do more to address bullying and cyberbullying.
“Our federal government recognizes the severity of the problem and is looking at all avenues to address it,” Richards said in his weekly report, adding that the Standing Committee on Human Rights began a study of cyberbullying in November 2011. “In 2011 alone, we funded 138 community-based crime prevention programs through the National Crime Prevention Strategy, in which nearly 16,000 at-risk youth participated.”
Richards said spending alone cannot stop the epidemic of bullying, and that along with the efforts of the government, parents, teachers, school administrators and community service groups must come together.
“Most importantly,” said Richards, “we need youth themselves to continue their firm commitment to standing up against bullying.”
Nov. 12-17 will mark National Bullying Awareness Week, a time Richards hopes will provide an opportunity for all to become more conscious of what has become a troublesome trend among Canadian youth and youth around the world.
“Too many kids dread going to school each day,” said Richards. “Too many suffer physical abuse at the hands of their tormenters. Too many are left with painful mental scars, impacting their ability to function within society well into adulthood.”
