Ontario court rules against Jordan Peterson, upholds social media training order

The Ontario Divisional Court is expected to release a decision today that will determine whether controversial psychologist, author and media commentator Jordan Peterson will have to undergo social media training. Peterson waits to speak to a crowd during a stop in Sherwood Park, Alta., Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson JASON FRANSON

An Ontario court has ruled against controversial psychologist Jordan Peterson, upholding a regulatory body's order that he undergo social media training or potentially lose his licence to practice.

In a decision released Wednesday, three Ontario Divisional Court judges unanimously sided with the College of Psychologists of Ontario in a case stemming from some of Peterson's contentious language and online statements.

Justice Paul Schabas wrote that the college's order that Peterson undergo a program on professionalism in public statements balanced its mandate to regulate the profession, "is not disciplinary and does not prevent Dr. Peterson from expressing himself on controversial topics."

Peterson had said his statements were not made in his capacity as a clinical psychologist, but instead were "off-duty opinions" – an argument the court rejected.

"Dr. Peterson sees himself functioning as a clinical psychologist 'in the broad public space' where he claims to be helping 'millions of people,'" Schabas wrote.

"Peterson cannot have it both ways: he cannot speak as a member of a regulated profession without taking responsibility for the risk of harm that flows from him speaking in that trusted capacity."

Peterson, a retired University of Toronto psychology professor, rose to prominence through his polarizing YouTube videos critiquing liberal culture and his successful self-help book, "12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos."

Since at least 2018, the governing body of Ontario's psychologists — of which Peterson has been a registered member since 1999 despite having stopped seeing patients in 2017 — has received complaints regarding Peterson's online commentary on a range of issues, from gender transition to climate change.

Specific complaints listed in the case before the divisional court included posts directed at Canadian politicians, a plus-sized Sports Illustrated model and transgender actor Elliot Page.

Last November, the college's complaints committee found Peterson "may be engaging in degrading, demeaning, and unprofessional comments" related to an appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast, where he identified himself as a clinical psychologist and appeared to demean a former client. The college's ethics code requires members to use respectful language and not engage in "unjust discrimination."

The complaints committee concluded that some of Peterson's comments posed "moderate risks of harm to the public" including "undermining public trust in the profession of psychology" as well as the college's ability to regulate the profession. It then ordered the social media coaching program at Peterson's expense, emphasizing that failure to comply could result in an allegation of professional misconduct.

Peterson filed for a judicial review, arguing his political commentary is not under the college's purview and that the college failed to balance its mandate with his right to freedom of expression.

The case was watched closely by free speech advocates and regulators in other professions. It featured interveners including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, and LGBTQ+ advocacy group Egale Canada.

Schabas said the college pursued a reasonable option by ordering the remedial coaching, which both maintained its professional standards while having minimal impact on Peterson's constitutional free speech rights.

"The panel concluded, reasonably, that Dr. Peterson’s behaviour raised a moderate risk of harm to the public," Schabas wrote.

The prescribed coaching would focus on Peterson's "unprofessional language" and would not prevent him from expressing himself on issues he or his audience care about, the judge wrote.

Citing a clear and transparent review process from the college, previous warnings it had made to Peterson about his language and his "unwillingness to acknowledge the (complaints committee's) concerns," Schabas dismissed the judicial review application and ordered Peterson to pay the college $25,000.

Peterson's lawyers did not respond to a request for comment.

A day before the decision was released, Peterson posted a statement on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, in anticipation of the ruling.

"I stand by what I have said and done and wish (the College of Psychologists of Ontario) luck in their continued prosecution. They're going to need it," Peterson wrote, noting his opposition to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "and his minions" and "the lying climate apocalypse-mongers."

"If I can't express such opinions in Canada, I will let the world know."

The college said it will review the court ruling and take next steps in accordance with its mandate and the legal process.

"The College of Psychologists of Ontario is committed to carrying out its mandate of protecting the public interest by regulating the practice of psychology and upholding the Standards of Professional Conduct," it wrote in a statement. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2023.