The Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF) intervened in the legal dispute between Canadian psychologist, author and media personality Dr. Jordan Peterson and the College of Psychologists of Ontario.
Joining a profession governed by a self-regulating body does not mean a person gives up their right to free expression. The CCF has become increasingly concerned with these types of bodies overstepping their original purpose. As these regulatory bodies are empowered by law to be the sole gatekeepers of their profession, it is a free expression issue rather than merely a private dispute.
One does not need to support anything Jordan Peterson has said to support his right to publicly discuss issues that realistically have nothing to do with the practice of psychology.
Unfortunately, the Divisional Court did not accept Dr Peterson’s argument that his comments were “off duty” and outside his role as a psychologist.
We are disappointed in this result, which we think could have a chilling effect on people in other regulated professions, like doctors, lawyers, teachers and accountants. We remain committed to fighting against professional regulator overreach in the future, which we see as a pressing free expression concern in modern Canada. For more on this issue, read CCF Litigation Director Christine Van Geyn’s paper for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute here.