Canadian Psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson has been ordered by the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO) to undergo re-education training after receiving complaints about his online views.
Despite fighting back, Peterson's appeal was recently rejected by a Canadian court.
Peterson, who previously had a clean record with the CPO and no public complaints, found himself in hot water after expressing opinions that clashed with leftist speech codes and ideologies. The complaints against him were made by individuals who were neither his clients nor familiar with his clients, prompting the CPO to launch an investigation.
In November 2022, the CPO's inquiries, complaints, and reports committee concluded that Peterson's comments were "degrading, demeaning, and unprofessional." They further stated that his conduct posed moderate risks to the public and had the potential to undermine trust in the profession of psychology and the college's ability to regulate it in the public interest.
Peterson's refusal to comply with the CPO's order and undergo re-education training was made clear in an article he wrote for the National Post. He stated, "I'm not complying. I'm not submitting to re-education. I am not admitting that my viewpoints... were either wrong or unprofessional." Peterson firmly believes that he has done nothing to compromise the well-being of his clients and stands by his views.
Taking the matter to court, Peterson argued that the CPO's order violated his rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, the Ontario Divisional Court ruled against him, claiming that the order had minimal impact on his freedom of expression. This ruling, however, fails to acknowledge the potential consequences Peterson faces, including the loss of his license to practice clinical psychology if he does not adhere to the ideological parameters set by regulators.
In addition to the court ruling, Peterson has also been ordered to pay $25,000 to his censors. The panel of superior court judges, consisting of Paul Schabas, Nancy Backhouse, and John Krawchenko, agreed that Peterson's freedom of speech was subordinate to the sensitivities of the CPO committee and the complaints made against him. They also concluded that the committee reasonably determined that Peterson's behavior posed a moderate risk to the public.
While Schabas acknowledged that professionals do not lose their freedom of expression upon joining a regulated profession, he emphasized that they must abide by the rules set by their regulatory body, which may limit their freedom of expression. The judge further stated that the nature of the language used, rather than the validity of Peterson's opinions, was the cause for concern.
The court ruling also classified Peterson's tweets as public statements rather than personal comments, placing them within the purview of the CPO. This suggests that only private, undocumented conversations would be exempt from the committee's regulation.
Peterson took to Twitter to express his frustration with the ruling, stating, "If you think that you have a right to free speech in Canada, you're delusional." He vowed to make every aspect of the case public and stand by his opposition to various issues, including trans surgery, Justin Trudeau, and climate change.
The outcome of this case has raised concerns among advocacy groups representing regulated professionals in Ontario. Jonah Arnold of the Association of Aggrieved Regulated Professionals of Ontario warned that this decision could affect the fundamental rights of approximately 400,000 professionals across various fields. Arnold believes that regulators may be emboldened to expand their authority and intrude into the personal lives of professionals, leading to a chilling effect on freedom of expression.
Furthermore, this precedent could discourage individuals from entering the healthcare profession, exacerbating the existing shortage of healthcare workers in Ontario and the rest of Canada.
The implications of this ruling extend beyond Dr. Jordan Peterson's case, highlighting the potential limitations on freedom of expression for professionals in regulated fields. The outcome of this battle between Peterson and the CPO has far-reaching consequences for the rights and freedoms of individuals in Canada.
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