Elon Musk Weighs In on Jordan Peterson Court Case

(L) Jordan Peterson, who has gained international fame for his bestselling self-help books and lectures, has been ordered by the College of Psychologists of Ontario to undergo a media training course. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press) (R)Tesla Motors Inc. chief executive Elon Musk. Canadian Press

Business magnate Elon Musk says prominent psychologist Jordan Peterson should take the social media training mandated by the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO)—if only to mock it.

“If you take the ’sensitivity training' course and explain live why it is nonsense, that would be quite funny,” Mr. Musk said in response to Mr. Peterson on Aug. 24 on Musk’s platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

An Ontario court on Aug. 23 ruled that a CPO order requiring Mr. Peterson to submit to coaching education on public speaking professionalism falls within the college’s mandate to regulate the profession in the public interest.

CPO ordered Mr. Peterson to undergo professional training due to some of his social media postings. The college alleged some of Mr. Peterson’s statements—directed at a plus-sized model, transgender actor Elliot Page, and several politicians—may be “degrading” to the profession and could amount to professional misconduct.

Mr. Peterson subsequently filed a judicial review application, seeking a review of the CPO’s order.

Justice Paul Schabas of Ontario Divisional Court dismissed Mr. Peterson’s application on Aug. 23, ruling that as a member of a “regulated profession,” Mr. Peterson bears responsibility “for the risk of harm that flows from him speaking in that trusted capacity.”

Appeal

The same day the psychologists’ legal action was dismissed, Henein Hutchison Robitaille, the law firm representing Mr. Peterson, issued a statement announcing Mr. Peterson instructed his counsel to seek leave to appeal to the Ontario Court of Appeal.

“Regulated professionals do not check their right to free expression at the door,” said the firm.

“Dr. Peterson is deeply concerned about the chilling effect that the College’s actions will have on professionals across Canada expressing controversial or unpopular views,” the statement said.

Jordan Peterson speaks at the 2018 Student Action Summit hosted by Turning Point USA at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Dec. 20, 2018. Gage Skidmore/flickr

Reacting to the court’s decision on Aug. 23, Mr. Peterson said on X: “So the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that the CPO can pursue their prosecution. If you think that you have a right to free speech in Canada you’re delusional.”

“I will make every aspect of this public,” he added. “And we will see what happens when utter transparency is the rule. Bring it on.”

Mr. Peterson posted a copy of the decision on X stating, “The courts are captured by woke ideologues. I knew this already but did not fully understand its extent.”

In response, Mr. Musk posted, “Wow.”

Mr. Peterson then replied to Mr. Musk stating, “It’s worse than you think.” The psychologist said it was his tweets criticizing “the trans insanity” and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that were the “putative reason,” adding, “The judges are progressives appointed by Justin Trudeau.”

“All professionals in Canada are so terrified of their ‘professional’ regulatory bodies that they are terrified into silence. And even those who aren’t intimidated in that manner can’t afford the extremely expensive and endless fight. Not good,” said Mr. Peterson.

The Epoch Times contacted the CPO for comment but didn’t hear back by publication time.

Free Speech

On Aug. 5, Mr. Musk said he would fund the legal bills of any users of X who “were unfairly treated by your employer due to posting or liking something on this platform.”

“We will fund your legal bill. No limit. Please let us know,” said Mr. Musk, the billionaire owner of Space X, Tesla Inc., as well as X, formerly known as Twitter. Mr. Musk purchased Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022.

“And we won’t just sue, it will be extremely loud and we will go after the boards of directors of the companies too,” added Mr. Musk.

Mr. Peterson, an author and profess emeritus at the University of Toronto in psychology, first came under scrutiny by his college in November 2022 after complaints about his social media posts. A complaints committee concluded these could be “degrading” to the profession and may constitute professional misconduct.

Earlier this year, Mr. Peterson criticized the college as weaponizing the disciplinary process for political reasons and stated the CPO wanted him to attend a “re-education camp.”

Mr. Peterson has previously said that while he wants to maintain his psychologist’s license, he no longer treats patients in favour of focusing on social and political commentary.