Canada's Peterson Challenges "Remedial" Training Order

Facts

• Prominent Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson is mounting a legal challenge against the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO) over claims that the governing board is threatening to revoke his license to practice unless he attends a coaching program.
• In a ruling publicized on Nov. 22, the CPO confirmed that it requires Peterson to complete a "Specified Continuing Education or Remedial Program" in order to "address issues regarding professionalism in public statements."
• Peterson, calling the program a “social media communications retraining,” filed a Notice of Application for judicial review with the Ontario Divisional Court. He also wrote a letter to PM Justin Trudeau — published in the National Post — detailing the situation.
• In a series of Tweets on Wednesday, Peterson commented on the CPO’s requirement, asserting that it's politically targeting professionals who challenge the existing political order.
• Citing confidentiality reasons, the CPO hasn't outlined specific public statements of concern that led to its ruling.
• Since coming to fame in 2016, Peterson has cumulated more than 15M followers across social media and sold millions of tickets to his talk shows. However, he has also been a source of controversy: some have accused his tweets of being “transphobic, sexist and racist,” and his comments on transgenderism have prompted a wide range of reactions.

Sources: New York Post, Members CPO, Threadreaderapp, Global News, and Spectator (UK).

Narratives

• Left narrative, as provided by PG Citizen. Jordan Peterson is known for decrying “victim culture,” yet he loves to play the victim. His roots are in academia, but since becoming a public figure, he has left teaching, citing reasons that don't really make sense. Not only is he a hugely controversial figure, but also a tremendously influential one, which brings a set of responsibilities he's not adhering to. Until he does, he must stay in his lane of academia.
• Right narrative, as provided by WSJ. Let’s just call it what it is: Jordan Peterson is having his professional career and reputation threatened by political bullies. The only “wrongdoing” Peterson has committed is dissenting from the prevailing woke ideology. Professional bodies are supposed to ensure the competency of practitioners, not police language and political beliefs.