Bill 9: Strengthening Quebec’s anti-bullying and anti-violence legislation

By Victoria Della Cioppa

To address the safety and well-being of all children in Quebec, the province has implemented various legislation over the years, one of the most notable being Bill 56. This law was designed to combat bullying and violence in educational institutions, making schools safer environments for our children. This year, Quebec has taken another step towards enhancing the protection of students by introducing Bill 9, which amends Bill 56 to include a crucial section on sexual violence. In response to the bill, the English Montreal School Board has revamped their plan, which was previously called the Safe School Action Plan, to become the Anti-Bullying Anti-Violence Action Plan.

Bill 56, known as “An Act to prevent and deal with bullying and violence in schools,” was initially enacted in 2012. It introduced several key elements for school staff to consider when dealing with incidents of bullying and violence. These elements include: (1) Definitions of bullying and violence, ensuring that educators, parents and students have a consistent understanding when identifying and addressing these issues; (2) Prevention and awareness measures within educational institutions, attesting that schools implement proactive measures designed to tackle specific areas of concern related to bullying and violence; (3) Reporting mechanisms for students, parents and staff to report incidents.

These mechanisms are designed to protect those who report incidents and ensure timely responses; and (4) Supervisory and support measures for all parties involved, including bystanders, which include both remediation measures and consequences, while taking into consideration several factors related to the student.

Bill 9 represents a significant enrichment of Bill 56 by recognizing the urgency of addressing sexual violence. The new bill has a dedicated section on sexual violence with steps to better protect students within educational settings. The amendments brought on by Bill 9 include: (1) An explicit definition of sexual violence within the context of educational institutions; (2) Mandatory training for all school staff on recognizing and addressing sexual violence to be provided by the Ministère de l’Éducation; and (3) Reporting directly to the Regional Student Ombudsman, thereby bypassing the complaint procedure route for bullying, which involves the school and the school board’s complaints officer.

As parents and guardians, it is essential to be informed about these legislative changes. Bill 9’s inclusion of sexual violence reinforces the commitment to protect our children from harm. By understanding these laws, parents can actively engage with educational institutions to ensure the safety and well-being of their children.

Victoria Della Cioppa is project development officer, School Climate and Violence Prevention with the English Montreal School Board.