Gov’t fast-tracking bid to create law to curb cyberbullying: Justice Minister

OTTAWA – Justice Minister Rob Nicholson is fast-tracking efforts to create a law that would curb cyberbullying.

Nicholson says he wants a review of laws to combat bullying online to be completed before summer. The review began last fall.

The minister made the comment ahead of a meeting Wednesday with his provincial and territorial counterparts.

Nicholson says the meeting will also focus on the Harper government’s proposed Victims Bill of Rights.

The minister, along with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, met Tuesday with the parents of Nova Scotia teenager Rehtaeh Parsons.

The 17-year-old took her own life earlier this month. Her familyalleges she was sexually assaulted by four boys in 2011 and that a digital photograph of the incident was shared around the school.

Parsons’ parents want federal laws beefed up so more can be done to combat cybercrime.

The prime minister’s wife, Laureen Harper, also spoke about cyberbullying and helped to promote a new website called needhelpnow.ca.

The website tells teens and their parents how to get a photo taken off the Internet.