Anti-bullying advocate reviews policies after criticisms

A well-known anti-bullying activist says his organization may modify its policies after recent criticism by education officials.

Rob Frenette says Bullying Canada is considering giving schools more time to look into and respond to complaints.

"Individuals have come to us with concerns that we need to change things, and as a registered charity we are following their guidelines and reviewing our policies," he said.

Earlier this week, Frenette was criticized for going public in April about a bullying case at Woodstock Middle School just four hours after notifying the school principal.

"It was a very quick turnaround time," said John Tingley, the acting superintendent of School District 14, which covers most of the St. John River Valley.

Frenette told CBC News he only gave school officials four hours to respond before issuing a press release because that's what the victim’s parents wanted.

But now Bullying Canada is looking into giving officials more time, he said.

"We didn't have a set policy in place of when we would have a parent contact us and when we'd go public. We're actually reviewing that."

Clarifies claims about NB Power complaints

Frenette also modified his claim about Bullying Canada’s hotline getting 400 to 500 bullying complaints from employees at NB Power after managers and union leaders at the Crown corporation questioned that number.

He said the number of calls is accurate, but not every call was from a different person.

"After triple-checking, it is individuals that have called numerous times as well as new cases."

Ross Galbraith, the manager for the union representing most NB Power employees, has said eight to 10 complaints, ranging from bullying to anything else related to an employee's discomfort in the workplace, are the norm.

Frenette maintains the number is much higher.

Frenette, a victim of bullying himself as a child, co-founded Bullying Canada in 2006.

Bullying Canada has been a registered charity since last August and must file its annual report with the Canada Revenue Agency by September.

Last year, Frenette was named a member of the Order of New Brunswick, the province’s highest recognition for community service.

The citation said he was honoured "for his tireless devotion to and passionate commitment to ending the spectre of bullying in our province and all across Canada."

Frenette was successful in pressuring the New Brunswick government to create an Anti-Bullying Day.