Jordan Peterson says he has moved to the United States because of the “decided advantages” of living stateside and the professional and political turmoil he now faces in Canada.
The University of Toronto psychology professor emeritus and author made the announcement on his daughter Mikhaila Peterson’s Dec. 10 podcast, in which she broached the subject: “Welcome to moving to America, formally.”
Peterson, who has become an outspoken free speech advocate, cited several pros to staying stateside, and where he’s living, in Florida.
“I like where I’m living, a lot,” he said, speaking to Mikhaila. “It’s close to you, we have lots of work to do.”
He also cited other reasons for jumping ship. The psychologist has faced challenge with the regulatory body of his profession, as well as political pressure.
Although not currently seeing patients, Peterson faced discipline by the College of Psychologists and Behavioural Analysts of Ontario for his comments online and during a podcast interview. The college responded in 2022 to some complaints from the public about his comments by ordering Peterson to undergo social media training or risk losing his licence.
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Peterson filed for a judicial review of the college’s decision saying his free speech rights were being infringed upon, but the Ontario Divisional Court dismissed that application in 2023. Peterson took the matter to the Ontario appeal court, which dismissed the case in January. The Supreme Court of Canada also declined to hear his case. After that, he said he would take the social media training sessions, but the college missed the November deadline to begin the training.
This may be because the college had trouble finding a “social media expert” to train him, he said in an Oct. 11 op-ed for the National Post. He surmised this may be because of the warning he issued via social media: “Don’t take the job! I will make EVERY BIT OF IT public, and in the most broadly distributed sort of way!” The college has not returned requests for comment.
He called the matter “very annoying to say the least,” while speaking on Mikhaila’s podcast.
Peterson’s list of qualms continued.
The federal government’s imminent Online Harms Act, or Bill C-63, he says, purports to protect children from online harm but amounts to “literally the creation of a new extrajudicial system that isn’t bound by the rules of legal investigation or guilt.”
“I'd be living in a totalitarian hellhole if that legislation passes, and it could well pass,” Peterson said. He has been working alongside his daughter while living the U.S. in the leadup to his announced move.
As the proposed legislation faces opposition by civil liberties groups and others, the Liberal government recently said it will split it in two. The first part, which the government said will be the priority, will be the one that deals with combatting child sex predators, while part two dealing with hate which involves free speech considerations will be pursued later.
Added to his list of reasons for leaving, Peterson complained about Canada’s tax situation, which he calls “out of hand,” and his general disdain for the Liberal government, calling it “incompetent beyond belief.”
For his part, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also criticized Peterson, alleging that he receives funding from Russian state-controlled media to spread messages intended to “destabilize democracies.” In response, Peterson asked if the prime minister has any evidence to back up the claim, and said he was considering legal action over the accusation.
Peterson said that even the home front is feeling less welcoming for him.
“And it’s become uncomfortable for me in my neighbourhood in Toronto,” said the psychologist, who mentioned that neighbours have both supported and denounced him where he lives.
Then, speaking of Mikhaila, who lives in Florida, he added: “And you’re here. And we have things to do.”
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