The result is in for Dr. Jordan Peterson in his legal battle against the Ontario College of Psychologists, and the result is a disappointing one for freedom of expression that should ?concern ?all members of regulated professions. The Ontario Divisional ?C??ourt dismissed Dr?.? Peterson’s judicial review and upheld the College of Psychologists order that Dr. Peterson take training in professionalism in communication in public statements.

A brief recap of this sad legal saga: The College of Psychologists of Ontario ordered Dr. Peterson to take mandatory training in professionalism in public statements. The training is for an indeterminate amount of time and is at Dr?.? Peterson’s own expense. 

This order came following controversial public statements Dr?.? Peterson had made on social media? that?? ?did not relate to the practice of psychology. The complaints were made by members of the public, not by any individuals who Dr?.? Peterson had ever treated as a patient and not by people who Dr?.? Peterson was making comments about.

The Divisional Court described this case as a “clash” between a regulated clinical psychologists’ right to speak in a certain manner and the regulator’s power to require the member to moderate that speech? in the name of professionalism and preventing “harm to the people they are directed at, and to the impacted and other communities more broadly.”?? ?

Dr?.? Peterson has already announced that he will be appealing the decision. Professionals everywhere should be watching this case. Unless the decision is overturned, this case could have a chilling effect on people in other regulated professions, like doctors, lawyers, teachers and accountants. Professionals should not have to soft pedal their speech for fear that activists will weaponize regulatory bodies so that unpopular speech or an unpleasant tone is penalized, even when there is no connection between that speech and the profession.

Source: Christine Van Geyn,  Special to National Post