OBA Health Law & Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Community (SOGIC) PROGRAM
Original Program Date: November 2, 2023

The Divisional Court recently released its decision dismissing the judicial review in the highly anticipated case Peterson v. College of Psychologists of Ontario, 2023 ONSC 4685. Jordan Peterson, a clinical psychologist, is well known for his controversial public statements, which are often degrading towards 2SLGBTQI+ people. Peterson sought judicial review of the College’s decision requiring him to take a remedial course, following a tweet that deadnamed and misgendered actor Elliott Page and called the physician who performed Elliott’s gender affirmation surgery a criminal. Peterson argued that the College did not have the authority to regulate his online speech and that his right to freedom of expression barred the College from ordering he take a remedial course.
 
Join counsel for the Intervenor Egale Canada for a candid discussion on:

• why Egale Canada intervened and the arguments presented to the Court;
• professional regulators’ authority and responsibility to regulate public discriminatory speech by their members, and the intersection with freedom of expression;
• the importance of educating the Court on the marginalization of the trans community and the harms caused by public anti-trans statements; and
• the implications of the decision on the 2SLGBTQI+ community and beyond.

PROGRAM CHAIR

John McIntyre, McIntyre Szabo PC

MODERATOR

Melanie Anderson, Goldblatt Partners LLP

PROGRAM SPEAKERS

John McIntyre, McIntyre Szabo PC
Gregory Ko, Kastner Lam LLP
Bennett Jensen, Egale Canada