Steinbach MLA, Kelvin Goertzen, is hoping that local residents take the opportunity to provide feedback to his Party on Bill 18, legislation that is intended to reduce bullying but has become controversial as Manitobans debate whether it will be either effective or constitutional.
“One thing that I can say about the debate around Bill 18 is that I believe almost everyone, on either side of the debate, wants to see something that will actually reduce bullying for kids in school. However, there has been concern expressed, and I share the concern, that Bill 18 as written may not achieve that goal,” said Goertzen. “What we are asking Manitobans to do is tell us what they like and don’t like about the Bill so that we can use that feedback to try and craft changes that will ensure it can actually reduce bullying while at the same time address the concerns that have been raised by thousands of Manitobans.”
The survey can be found on the PC Party website at www.pcmanitoba.com.
At the same time, Goertzen noted that concern about Bill 18 continues to grow. Last week Goertzen received letters of concern from leaders of the Sikh, Coptic, Muslim and Jewish community in Winnipeg.
“I’ve never believed that the opposition to Bill 18 was coming from one community, one faith or for one reason. Whether it is because of the poor definition of bullying in the Bill, a lack of consequences for bullying or questions on whether the Bill is constitutional, the concerns have been widely based and from across Manitoba,” said Goertzen.
