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   Ontario court rules against Jordan Peterson, upholds social media training   
   order   
   Social Sharing   
      
      
   Court released decision Wednesday, Peterson says he will take the training   
   and broadcast it   
   CBC News · Posted: Aug 23, 2023 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: August 23   
      
      
   An Ontario court ruled against psychologist and media personality Jordan   
   Peterson Wednesday, and upheld a regulatory body's order that he take   
   social media training in the wake of complaints about his controversial   
   online posts and statements.   
      
   Last November, Peterson, a professor emeritus with the University of   
   Toronto psychology department who is also an author and media commentator,   
   was ordered by the College of Psychologists of Ontario to undergo a   
   coaching program on professionalism in public statements.   
      
   That followed numerous complaints to the governing body of Ontario   
   psychologists, of which Peterson is a member, regarding his online   
   commentary directed at politicians, a plus-sized model, and transgender   
   actor Elliot Page, among other issues. You can read more about those   
   social media posts here.   
      
   The college's complaints committee concluded his controversial public   
   statements could amount to professional misconduct and ordered Peterson to   
   pay for a media coaching program — noting failure to comply could mean the   
   loss of his licence to practice psychology in the province.   
      
   Peterson filed for a judicial review, arguing his political commentary is   
   not under the college's purview.   
      
       Jordan Peterson is being disciplined for his tweets. Why some say that   
   raises free speech issues   
      
   Three Ontario Divisional Court judges unanimously dismissed Peterson's   
   application, ruling that the college's decision falls within its mandate   
   to regulate the profession in the public interest and does not affect his   
   freedom of expression.   
      
   "The order is not disciplinary and does not prevent Dr. Peterson from   
   expressing himself on controversial topics; it has a minimal impact on his   
   right to freedom of expression," the decision written by Justice Paul   
   Schabas reads, in part. You can read the entire decision at the bottom of   
   this story.   
      
   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 says he has 'zero regrets'   
      
   In an interview with CBC News, Peterson said he will take the training and   
   broadcast it.   
      
   "I'll comply with their regulations, but I'm not going to do it in   
   secret... And the reason I'm not going to do it in secret is because I   
   don't believe I've done anything wrong," he said.   
   WATCH | Jordan Peterson defiant over court ruling on social media use:   
   Court orders Jordan Peterson to get social media training   
   24 hours ago   
   Duration 2:04   
   An Ontario court has upheld a ruling ordering controversial psychologist   
   Jordan Peterson to undergo social media training or risk losing his   
   licence. The ruling followed complaints about his controversial online   
   posts and statements.   
      
   In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, before the decision was   
   released, Peterson said he wished the college luck in its "continued   
   prosecution."   
      
   He wrote: "They're going to need it.".   
      
   Peterson told CBC News in January that he had no intention of giving up   
   his fight with the regulatory body, accusing the college of attempting to   
   stymie his speech and discipline him for his political opinions.   
      
   He also Wednesday he stands by what he has said and has "zero regrets" for   
   his social media posts.   
      
   Peterson said he believes the posts are a question of free speech, which   
   he called "sacred," adding he says what he believes to be true.   
      
   "The fundamental issue is one of free discourse," he said. "I like to   
   think and we think by talking in large part. And so I'm not willing to   
   suspend my tongue as a consequence of government decree."   
   Controversial figure wants to retain licence   
      
   He added he no longer treats patients and his career is instead focused on   
   social and political commentary. Similarly, he doesn't regularly lecture   
   at U of T.   
      
   However, Peterson has said he wants to retain his licence.   
      
   "I deserve it. I earned it. I haven't done anything to justify suspending   
   it, and I don't want to give the hyenas their bones," he said earlier this   
   year.   
      
   The college, in a statement released after the decision was issued, said   
   it is committed to carrying out its mandate of protecting the public   
   interest by regulating the practice of psychology.   
      
   "The College will review today's decision and undertake next steps in   
   accordance with our mandate and any appropriate legal processes," the   
   statement reads.   
   Peterson speaks to a crowd in 2018.   
   Peterson, seen here speaking to a crowd in Sherwood Park, Alta., in 2018,   
   has said he wants to retain his licence, though his career is now largely   
   focused on social and political commentary. (Jason Franson/The Canadian   
   Press)   
      
   Peterson's 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, which said in   
   a statement from Executive Director Helen Kennedy that communities her   
   organization represents often face discrimination and barriers when   
   accessing healthcare.   
      
   "Today's ruling that as a professional regulatory body, the College of   
   Psychologists of Ontario has the mandate to regulate degrading and   
   demeaning speech by its members, is a step in the right direction in   
   ensuring that 2SLGBTQI individuals can access healthcare safely and   
   without discrimination," Kennedy wrote.   
      
   Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) Executive Director Noa   
   Mendelsoh Aviv, meanwhile, said in a statement that the CCLA doesn't   
   endorse Peterson's views, but still argued in court that professional   
   regulatory bodies shouldn't be policing speech that is not directly   
   connected to professional practice.   
      
   "Freedom of expression is a right that no individual gives up just because   
   they join a regulated profession," she said.   
      
   Carolyn Silver, Chief Legal Officer for the College of Physicians and   
   Surgeons of Ontario who appeared at the hearing on behalf of the college   
      
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