Premier of Alberta Considers Regulator Reforms, Mentioning Jordan Peterson Case

The Alberta government is contemplating new legislation aimed at preventing regulatory colleges from penalizing individuals based on their political views.

Premier Danielle Smith has expressed support for this initiative, highlighting its potential to protect figures like Jordan Peterson, a prominent Canadian psychologist and author, from disciplinary action for their outspoken views on controversial topics.

“Free speech seems to be constantly under attack in this country,” Smith stated in a recent social media update.

“As Premier, I will continue to advocate for free speech here in Alberta, including ensuring that individuals like Dr. Jordan Peterson have the right to express their opinions.”

Smith also discussed the proposed legislation on the ‘Your Province. Your Premier.’ radio show following a query from a constituent.

She argued that professional bodies should operate independently of political or judicial influence, citing a Supreme Court decision that dismissed Peterson’s challenge against a reprimand from the College of Psychologists of Ontario.

“We’ve granted absolute authority to professional bodies to manage their affairs without interference, meaning politicians and the courts should not intervene,” Smith explained.

“From the Supreme Court's decision, it’s clear that if we want to alter how these bodies function, legislative action is necessary.”

Justice Minister Mickey Amery is currently reviewing the operations of these professional colleges, according to Smith.

Premier Danielle Smith has emphasized that while regulatory bodies overseeing professions like medicine and law are crucial for maintaining professional standards, their authority should be “very narrowly defined” to ensure they do not overreach.

“We’ve seen instances where lawyers have misused trust funds or doctors have over-billed,” Smith stated.

“These are the types of issues that professional colleges should address.”

Smith indicated that the government is reviewing the operations of these professional colleges to determine if new legislation is needed to restrict their powers.

She mentioned that the province is “prepared to act” but may not be able to implement changes this fall. “If we need to address this in the spring, we will,” she said.

“We must ensure that professional colleges focus on real harms rather than imposing their views on members.”

The case of Jordan Peterson has been a focal point of national debate since 2022 and garnered renewed attention earlier this month when the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear his appeal, dismissing it “with costs.”

Peterson had been challenging a 2022 order from the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO) requiring him to undergo social media training on professionalism.

The order stemmed from complaints about his social media posts, which the CPO claimed could be deemed “degrading” to the profession and potentially constitute professional misconduct.

Peterson contested the CPO’s allegations, arguing that his comments were not made in his official capacity as a clinical psychologist.

Despite being a registered member of the CPO since 1999, he has not seen patients since 2017, according to court documents. Peterson, who is a professor emeritus in psychology at the University of Toronto, criticized the court’s decision as imposing “indefinite re-education” on him.