Jordan Peterson Alleges Psychologist Regulator Missed Deadline on Discipline Proceedings

International bestselling author and psychologist Jordan Peterson alleges Ontario’s psychologist regulatory body has missed its own deadline and is stalling proceedings in its case against him.

The psychologist took to Twitter on March 2, saying that the College of Psychologists of Ontario has “already exceeded their own deadline with respect to this matter.”

“I have a right even under their terms of organization to have my case dealt with in a timely manner,” he wrote.

“Despite repeated attempts on the part of my lawyers to proceed, they are delaying. The reason for this, plain and simple, is that they hope people will forget and they can proceed invisibly.”

Peterson’s legal team wrote the college on Feb 15 “insisting that they continue with the disciplinary process they initiated, if they’re not withdrawing the complaints.”

The psychologist broke the news on the college’s case against him in a Twitter post on Jan. 3, saying: “BREAKING: The Ontario College of Psychologists has demanded that I submit myself to mandatory social-media communication retraining with their experts for, among other crimes, retweeting [Conservative Leader] Pierre Poilieve and criticizing [Prime Minister] Justine Trudeau and his political allies.”

He added that “I am to take a course of such training (with reports documenting my ‘progress’ or face an in-person tribunal and suspension of my right to operate as a licensed clinical psychologist.”

The psychologist also tweeted that he was mounting a constitutional challenge in court, and the next day announced that he had filed an application with the Ontario Divisional Court for judicial review of the college’s request that he take the disciplinary training course.

The college did not reply to a request from The Epoch Times for comment as of publication, and has reportedly rejected requests from other media as well, citing confidentiality.

In a website statement, the college said, “In a decision released on November 22, 2022, the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee decided to require Dr. Jordan Peterson to successfully complete a prescribed Specified Continuing Education or Remedial Program (SCERP). The substance of the SCERP is a Coaching Program to address issues regarding professionalism in public statements.”

On Jan. 4, Peterson released a document on Twitter detailing the college’s demands made of him concerning his “re-education.”

In a commentary in the National Post on the same day, he said he would not be complying with the demands. He added that he was asked to do the training “at my own expense (some hundreds of dollars per hour) and for a length of time that is to be determined only by those retraining me and profiting from doing so.”

Peterson said his critics have “learned to weaponize” the CPO’s disciplinary process for “reasons both political and personal.”

Poilievre wrote in a tweet on March 3 that the regulatory body “must stop trying to censor Dr. Peterson and start honouring free speech.”

“If they don’t like his ideas, they should try debating him. Good luck with that,” he posted.

Social Media Posts

Peterson on Jan. 4 also published details of his communications with the college. They show he is being investigated based on complaints about statements he made over a four-year period, submitted by people who appear to be members of the public and fellow psychologists.

They focus on several of his Tweets and his interview with the podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience,” on topics such as COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions, the Freedom Convoy protest, the world population, and transgender surgery.

Peterson, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Toronto, notes that he has 15 million followers on social media and that the college is proceeding with discipline based on complaints submitted by “about a dozen people from all over the world.”

“I have been accused of harming people,” he said. “We are now in a situation in Canada under Justin Trudeau where practicing professionals can have their livelihoods and public reputations threatened in a very serious manner for agreeing with the Official Opposition and criticizing major government figures.”

According to Peterson, who did not return calls for comment before press time, none of the complaints are from former or present patients, and none were even acquainted with any of his clients.

The college is considering the complaints under the professional code alleging issues with “disgraceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional conduct,” and “provision of information to the public.”

The college regulations state that information must be “accurate and supportable based on current professional literature or research” and “consistent with the professional standards, policies, and ethics currently adopted by the College.”

Tara MacIsaac and Peter Wilson contributed to this report.