Clinical psychologist Dr. Jordan B. Peterson commented on an Ontario court's dismissal of his appeal to challenge the College of Psychologists of Ontario's mandate that the clinical psychologist undergo social media training.
Last January, Peterson was ordered to participate in a mandatory "specified continuing education or remedial program" by the College of Psychologists of Ontario regarding the clinical psychologist's social media posts. Peterson's social media posts in question include retweeting leader of the Conservative Party of Canada Pierre Poilievre, criticizing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and his vocal opposition to liberal politics.
"A higher court in Canada has ruled that the Ontario College of Psychologists indeed has the right to sentence me to re-education camp," Peterson wrote in an X post. "There are no other legal avenues open to me now."
"It's capitulate to the petty bureaucrats and the addle-pated woke mob or lose my professional license," he added.
"Congratulations, College of Psychologists of Ontario!" Peterson continued. "You won this round."
He then warned "the war has barely started."
"There is nothing you can take from me that I'm unwilling to lose," he continued. "So watch out."
"Seriously. You've been warned," Peterson added.
Peterson initially revealed the Ontario College of Psychologists' mandatory social-media retraining order in a January 2023 thread to X, then Twitter.
“I have been accused of harming people (although none of the complainants involved in the current action were clients of mine, past or present, or were even acquainted with any of my clients)," Peterson said of the order which threatened to revoke his license. “About a dozen people from all over the world submitted complaints about my public statements on Twitter and Rogan over a four year period (out of the 15 million who follow me on social media) claiming that I had ‘harmed’ people (not them) with my views.”
“We are now in a situation in Canada under [Justin Trudeau] where practicing professionals can have their livelihoods and public reputations threatened in a very serious manner for agreeing with the Official Opposition and criticizing major government figures,” he continued. “If I comply the terms of my re-education and my punishment will be announced publicly.”
Peterson formally indicated his refusal to comply with the college's order shortly after.
A three-panel divisional court ruled in favor of the Ontario College of Psychologists suspending Peterson's medical license last August.
In an X post, Peterson warned, "If you think you have a right to free speech in Canada, you're delusional."
The clinical psychologist also said he intended to make "every aspect" of his social media training public.
"We will see what happens when utter transparency is the rule," he said. "Bring it on."
