Territory · Canada

Nunavut: cyberbullying law for schools

Bottom line for counselors: The law sets some anti-bullying rules but leaves much of the detail to schools, and online bullying is only partly covered. Check your school's own policy. There is no takedown regulator, so report harmful posts to the platform. Some online abuse can be a crime under general laws.

Last verified: checked against official sources on 11 November 2026.

Territory

Nunavut

Each district must adopt an Inuuqatigiitsiarniq (positive behaviour) policy.

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2.5of 7
Protection score

One point for each of the seven questions answered yes, half a point for partly. Where a rule is set nationally, the national answer counts. A quick guide, not a legal rating.

  • Partly:

    Do schools have to have anti-bullying rules?

    Partly. The Education Act requires each district to adopt an Inuuqatigiitsiarniq policy for a safe, welcoming school, but bullying is not defined in law.

    Legal detail and sources

    Education Act, S.Nu. 2008, c.15, s58; Inuuqatigiitsiarniq Policy and Discipline Regulations (2011).

  • Partly:

    Do those rules cover online bullying?

    Not addressed specifically.

  • No:

    Is there a regulator that can get harmful posts taken down?

    Not yet. A federal bill would create a Digital Safety Commission, but it is still before Parliament. Report harmful posts to the platform and, if it is a crime, to police.

    Legal detail and sources

    Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, was introduced 10 June 2026. It would enact the Digital Safety Act and create the Digital Safety Commission of Canada to set standards, enforce platform duties and handle complaints. It replaces the earlier Online Harms Act (Bill C-63), which never became law.

  • No:

    Is there a minimum age for social media?

    Not yet. The federal Safe Social Media Act would bar under-16s from regulated social media, but it is not law.

    Legal detail and sources

    Bill C-34 would stop children under 16 from holding accounts on regulated social media services, with possible exemptions for services that show strong child safeguards. Which services are covered would be set later by regulation.

  • Partly:

    What are the rules on phones at school?

    No territory-wide rule; districts set their own phone policies.

    Legal detail and sources
  • Set nationally:

    When is online abuse a crime?

    Online bullying can be a federal crime when it becomes harassment, threats or sharing intimate images.

    Legal detail and sources

    There is no single cyberbullying offence. Criminal Code offences that can apply include criminal harassment (s264), uttering threats (s264.1) and publishing an intimate image without consent (s162.1, added by the Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act, in force 10 March 2015). The Protecting Victims Act (2026) extended s162.1 to include sexual deepfakes.

  • Partly:

    What guidance do staff and counselors get?

    Each district has an Inuuqatigiitsiarniq committee.

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