The impossible task of crafting anti-bullying laws that satisfy everyone

Debate continues to rage over a proposed Manitoba law against bullying in schools, as the legislation intended to ensure fair treatment for all students receives criticism from all sides.

Not that Manitoba should be surprised by the response. Other anti-bullying laws introduced in other provinces have received a similarly rocky reception in recent years.

At a public forum this week, Manitoba's Bill 18 was criticized as both too broad and too narrow, as a necessary step that should be delayed no further and as unnecessary government intervention.

The Winnipeg Free Press reports that one parent said the proposed law doesn't address many key subjects that frequently lead to bullying, including "body image, grades and cultural background." Others said the bill was so broad that anything could be considered a breach.

[ Related: Bill 18 opponents, supporters speak at 1st public hearing ]

This is not the first anti-bullying legislation introduced in Canada, nor the first to be criticized.

Nova Scotia introduced the country's first cyberbullying legislation earlier this year, after the death of teenager Rehtaeh Parsons.

But even before that, provinces such as Ontario and Alberta were already taking steps against the wider problem of bullying at school.

Ontario passed its anti-bullying legislation in 2012, notably allowing gay-straight alliances at all Ontario schools. The move was lambasted by religious groups, which contended the government was stepping too far into how Catholic schools handled internal issues. Manitoba Christian schools have already sounded the alarm bells over Bill 18’s support of gay-straight alliances.

CBC News reports that some at the Manitoba public forum on Tuesday accused the anti-bullying measures of being a plot to "normalize homosexuality."

Meantime, Alberta's law was criticized as too broad when it was introduced last year, specifically a passage that appears to consider those who fail to report instances of bullying as breaching the policy themselves.

The Alberta legislation was also accused to putting too much onus on the students themselves to police for potential cases of bullying, another criticism the Manitoba proposal faces.

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There are a few other anti-bullying measures in place, and in development at the moment, many of them just shy of being law.

When it comes to law, it seems impossible to satisfy everyone. Debate will always rage over whether the bill goes far enough, interferes in the school’s daily affairs or does enough to protect students targeted by bullies.

On the third of those points, however, everyone is in agreement. Bullying online and at school is an increasing problem, and any legislation that has the best of intentions has merit. But satisfying everyone is a fine line that seems impossible to walk.

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