TERMS OF REFERENCE

MANDATE

The mandate of the Minister's Task Force is to prepare and present to the Minister practical short-term and long-term recommendations to address cyberbullying of children and youth. These recommendations will address legislative, policy and procedural matters with pragmatic and practical strategies supported by the findings of a Task Force Working Group and eight focus groups with young people conducted around the province.

AREAS OF FOCUS

The areas of focus for the task force working group will include, but are not limited to the following:

  • examine the challenges facing schools, students, parents, and communities as they relate to bullying behaviour through online surveys, public forums, and focus groups
  • review current programs, initiatives, and resources being used to successfully address cyberbullying
  • review the effectiveness of policies and practices that are in place for schools and other organizations to deal with bullying behaviour
  • identify best practices and evidence-based approaches to fostering good behaviour and healthy relationships
  • review current research, and Nova Scotia data, as it relates to the number of bullying incidents and interventions
  • examine the research as it relates to the long-term impact of cyberbullying and the harm that is done to people with respect to school engagement and performance, social and emotional development, and mental health
  • explore the opportunities to establish a basic understanding for students, parents, and communities with respect to the appropriate use of online social media, recognizing bullying behaviour, and pro-actively dealing with bullying behaviour individually and through a support network.

PROCESS

Professor Wayne MacKay from Schulich School of Law has examined issues relating to bullying and cyber-bullying both in terms of constitutional law and education law. He is an internationally recognized expert in human rights law, a former Director of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, and a former President of Mount Allison University. Professor MacKay possesses a high level of technical expertise that would assist the work of the Task Force.

Professor MacKay has been asked to Chair a Task Force of 5 members (Professor MacKay; Rola AbiHanna, Chair of a Task Force Working Group; MLA Mat Whynott; a youth representative, Breanna Fitzgerald; and a parent representative, Wendy MacGregor). Professor MacKay and the other Task Force members will oversee a 20 member Task Force Working Group with representation from partner groups. The membership of the Task Force Working Group will consist of one representative from:

  • Department of Education (Chair–Rola AbiHanna)
  • Nova Scotia School Boards Association
  • Nova Scotia Federation of Home and School Associations
  • Fédération des Parents Acadians de la Novelle-Écosse
  • Association of Nova Scotia School Administrators
  • Nova Scotia Teachers Union
  • Secondary School Students’ Association
  • Department of Health and Wellness
  • Department of Community Services
  • Department of Justice
  • Council of Mi’kmaq Education
  • Council of African-Canadian Education
  • Canadian Mental Health Association
  • Royal Canadian Mounted Police
  • Truro Regional Police
  • PREVnet/IWK
  • Disabled Persons Commission
  • Information Technology Industry Representative (Bell Aliant)
  • Kids Help Phone
  • Department of Education Corporate Policy

Professor MacKay, in consultation with the other 4 members of the Task Force, will set the terms of reference for the Task Force Working Group and identify the methodology the working group will use to provide information required to prepare the report he will submit on behalf of the Task Force to the Minister of Education.

Professor MacKay and the other 4 members of the Task Force will also support MLA Mat Whynott to establish the framework for eight focus groups with young people around the province that will be led by MLA Whynott and youth representative, Breanna Fitzgerald.

The work of the Task Force Working Group and the data from the eight focus groups will be completed and provided to Professor Wayne MacKay by November 18, 2011. Professor MacKay will subsequently submit a report to the Minister of Education with recommendations to address the mandate of the Task Force. This report will be submitted by the end of December 2011.