Executive Summary
Date Published: 10 January 2023
Written by: Howard Levitt & Kathryn Marshall
In case you missed it, Jordan Peterson has now found himself mired in yet another public controversy. Peterson, the professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Toronto turned right-wing media darling, is now engaged in a nasty battle with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. The College has recently ordered Peterson to undergo a media training program in response to Peterson’s often-controversial social media posts, including recent remarks about whether overweight people are attractive, gender dysphoria, and the Trudeau government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is perhaps that last item on the list which should be most troubling. Many of the views for which Peterson is being asked to atone for are conservative, right-wing beliefs. This has led many commenters to suggest that Peterson is being targeted for his political views, which has further led to calls for protection against what is now being referred to as “political discrimination. As a matter of fact, a private members bill was recently put forth by Conservative MP, Garnett Genuis, which seeks to add political belief and activity as a protected category to the Canadian Human Rights Act. In this article, Howard Levitt and Kathryn Marshall discuss the importance of Jordan Peterson’s newest battle with the College of Psychologists of Ontario and how it highlights the need for greater legal protections against “political discrimination”.