Parents urge quick passing of anti-bullying law

Jamie Hubley had plans, he want to start a Rainbow Club at his school to help other students who, much like him felt like outsiders due to their sexual orientation. He killed himself instead becoming the poster child of bullying victims who resort to suicide as the only option.

It was Jamie’s story that prompted Premier Dalton McGuinty to announce legislation last week containing tougher consequences for bullies, including expulsion or counselling . Jamie’s parents, Ottawa city councillor Allan Hubley and his wife, Wendy, were at the Ontario Legislature on Wednesday, where they met with Mr. McGuinty and opposition members to impress upon them the urgency of putting aside their partisan differences and quickly passing the legislation into law. "We lost our boy. They can't bring him back, but there's other kids who are at risk. The longer they take, there's going to be more Jamies." Mr. Hubley told the Globe and The Mail. 


The proposed legislation provides a rare opportunity for the new minority government in Ontario to work together with the Official Opposition. Progressive Conservative education critic Elizabeth Witmer introduced her own anti-bullying private member’s bill the same day the Liberals unveiled their legislation. “Obviously, there are different groups that would like to hijack the agenda,” Mr. Hubley said.“We’re here to say, don’t let them”


Mr. Hubley said he and his wife decided to go public with their son’s story because they did not want to see other teens endure the same experience as their son. Jamie, the middle of three children, was the only openly gay student at A.Y. Jackson Secondary School in Ottawa.


His one big hope, Mr. Hubley said, is that “Jamie’s life wasn’t lost in vain, that some good will come out of this.”


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