Jordan Peterson Loses College of Psychologists’ Case as Court Rules Against Him

An Ontario court has ruled against psychologist and author Jordan Peterson, upholding a regulatory body’s previous order that he undergo social media training.

Mr. Peterson, who is a professor emeritus in the University of Toronto Psychology department, was ordered by the College of Psychologists of Ontario in November 2022 to undergo a coaching program on professionalism in public statements following a series of public statements it saw as controversial.

The college’s complaints committee concluded Mr. Peterson’s statements in question—which were directed at a plus-sized model, transgender actor Elliot Page, and several politicians—may be “degrading” to the profession and could amount to professional misconduct. A failure to comply could have meant the loss of Mr. Peterson’s licence and ability to practice in Ontario.

In January, Mr. Peterson said his critics had “weaponized the College of Psychologists’ disciplinary process for political reasons,” and that the college wanted to send him to a “re-education camp.”

Mr. Peterson subsequently filed for a judicial review in June, with his lawyers arguing his political commentary is not under the college’s purview, the college did not give enough weight to his right to free speech in their decision, and that the comments were taken out of context.

But the Ontario Divisional Court dismissed his application, ruling that the college’s decision falls within its mandate to regulate the profession in the public interest, and does not impact Mr. Peterson’s freedom of expression.

On Aug. 22, a day before the decision, Mr. Peterson said on the social media platform X, “I stand by what I have said and done and wish them luck in their continued prosecution. They’re going to need it.”

“I tweeted and otherwise expressed my opposition to trans surgery butchery, [Prime Minister] Justin Trudeau and his minions, and the lying climate apocalypse-mongers. All that’s looking pretty good from my end. And if I can’t express such opinions in Canada, I will let the world know,” he added.

Mr. Peterson rose to fame among social conservatives through his YouTube lectures, his successful self-help book, “12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos,” and his opposition to the Liberal government’s Bill C-16, which added the protection of gender identity and expression to the Human Rights Code and Criminal Code.

Mr. Peterson’s Twitter account was temporarily suspended for his comments on Elliot Page, but it was reinstated by Elon Musk after he purchased the social media platform in 2022.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.