Aug 09, 2024 - 09:26
By cbc.ca

Jordan Peterson agrees to social media coaching after Supreme Court declines free speech case

Polarizing psychologist Jordan Peterson now says he will attend the social media training he was ordered to undergo by his professional body after Canada's top court refused to hear his appeal, according to his lawyer.

In 2022, the governing body for Ontario's psychologists told Peterson — who has gained international fame with his views on women, masculinity and gender identity — to undergo a social media training program or risk losing his licence to practise.

The College of Psychologists of Ontario said some of his social media posts may be «degrading,» raise questions about his abilities as a psychologist and risk bringing the profession into disrepute.

Peterson — who has been a registered member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario since 1999 but stopped seeing patients in 2017 — said his statements were not made in his capacity as a clinical psychologist.

In one of the social media posts in question, Peterson refers to a then-city councillor who uses they/them pronouns as an «appalling, self-righteous, moralizing thing.»

The college's complaints committee noted that during an appearance on podcast, Peterson identified himself as a clinical psychologist before demeaning a former client.

Last summer, an Ontario court ruled against Peterson and upheld the regulatory body's order for him to undergo training on professionalism in public statements. That decision was affirmed by a panel of three judges with the Ontario Court of Appeal earlier this year.

As usual, the Supreme Court of Canada did not explain why it won't hear Peterson's case. It was dismissed with costs.