Peterson and College of Psychologists of Ontario, 2023 ONSC 4685, August 23, 2023.

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Rights to free expression must yield to regulated profession’s interest in upholding primary principles of human dignity and public confidence in the profession:  outspoken Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson’s public comments merited professional remediation, Canadian Superior Court in Ottawa has concluded.  

In 2022, Jordan Peterson, Ph.D., made several public pronouncements concerning, among other things, sexual transitioning, obesity, and the characters of a former client and a public figure.  Those remarks provoked an onslaught of complaints to the psychology profession’s regulatory body, the College of Psychologists of Ontario, which, upon investigation, ordered Peterson to undertake coaching so as to conform his remarks to professional standards requiring that all persons be accorded dignity.

Peterson refused and requested judicial review, stating that he had undertaken his own remediation and that his speech interests were unduly impacted by the board’s measure, which was not considered to be punitive, but which would lead to discipline if it were not completed.  

The Superior  Court  of Justice in Ottawa found no error in the professional regulatory body’s finding that public confidence in the profession requires that speech conform to ethical standards.  The profession of psychology in Ontario holds “human dignity” as a first principle, requiring that psychologists refrain from words or actions that would offend that dignity or result in discrimination.  

Thus in at least one province, Canada has concluded that public expression must be constrained by professional codes of ethics. Peterson has been assessed $25,000.00 in costs. 

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Peterson-v.-College-of-Psychologists-of-Ontario-DC-714-22-FINAL-18-August-2023 (1)