Mr. Speaker, Pink Shirt Day was held February 27, issuing a challenge to all Canadians to make some noise against bullying. I am proud to report that the people in my riding are rising to that challenge.
One town in my riding, Cochrane, Alberta, is now home to Bill Belsey who coined the phrase “cyberbullying” and who founded Bullying Awareness Week 10 years ago.
In Airdrie, a 13-year-old girl named Mackenzie Murphy is now courageously speaking out about the bullying that led to her suicide attempt in early December.
Bullying was also discussed when 200 rural crime watch delegates met in the town of Olds in early February.
I am proud to be part of a government that is taking action on this issue. However, to succeed, we will require the continued efforts of youth, parents, teachers, community service groups and society as a whole.
We still have work to do, but we need only look to the riding that I am proud to represent to see we are making progress.