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By Ewan Palmer
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Canadian psychologist and author Jordan Peterson has announced he has moved to the U.S. because of professional and political challenges in Canada.
In a recent episode of The Mikhaila Peterson Podcast, hosted by his daughter, Peterson cited his feud with the College of Psychologists of Ontario and concerns about a contentious bill targeting hate speech as among the key reasons for his decision to leave Canada.
Peterson's departure could be seen as symbolizing conservative dissatisfaction some Canadians feel with the country's governance under Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as his own criticism on perceived restriction of free speech.
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"The issue with the College of Psychologists is very annoying, to say the least, and the new legislation that the Liberals are attempting to push through, Bill C-63, we'd all be living in a totalitarian hellhole if it passes," Peterson said.
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"The tax situation is out of hand. The government in Canada at the federal level is incompetent beyond belief, and it's become uncomfortable for me in my neighborhood in Toronto," he added.
Newsweek has contacted Peterson's office for comment via email.
Peterson did not specify where in the U.S. he has relocated but noted that one advantage is being closer to his daughter, who lives in Arizona.
Peterson has been at odds with the College of Psychologists of Ontario since its Inquiries, Complaints, and Reports Committee mandated in 2022 that he undergo social media communication retraining or risk losing his license.
The college said it had received complaints dating back to 2018 about Peterson's social media posts on topics such as transgenderism, racism, and the response to COVID-19.
The Canadian Supreme Court dismissed Peterson's appeal against the college's decision in August.
Bill C-63, known as the Online Harms Act, is a wide-ranging piece of legislation aimed at targeting harmful content and hate speech both online and offline.
The bill has faced accusations of overreach and fears it could lead to online speech surveillance and suppression. The Democracy Fund, a Canadian civil liberties charity said in October the bill would "eliminate free speech" in Canada.
The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association said in a September statement that the bill's plans to potentially impose life imprisonment for any hate-motivated crime could result in an increase in wrongful convictions.
One heavily scrutinized section of the bill allows a person to file a complaint with a judge if they "fear" someone may commit a hate crime.
"You don't have to say it to be arrested, just the suspicion that you might. Canada is about to make a reality of what George Orwell labeled 'thoughtcrime' in his dystopian novel 1984," Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, wrote in a March column. "Cuba, North Korea, and other tyrannies are applauding."
The Canadian government announced this month that Bill C-63 will be split into two separate pieces of legislation to address concerns about potential implications for free speech, while also ensuring its child protection initiatives could advance.
Amnesty International Canada praised the government over the proposed legislation.
"This is a step in the right direction for thoughtful policymaking and robust democratic debate," Ketty Nivyabandi, secretary-general of Amnesty International Canada's English-speaking section, said in a statement.
"Separating out the contentious sections will make it easier for Parliamentarians to address online harms in a way that upholds human rights while protecting freedom of expression and safeguarding against unintended consequences," Nivyabandi said.
During his appearance on his daughter's podcast, Peterson also cited the warmer weather in the U.S. as a reason for leaving Canada.
"It is very nice to be somewhere where every single day is sunny. There's something to be said for that," Peterson said.
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