Jordan Peterson is moving to the United States

Canadian psychologist and author Jordan Peterson has announced that he has moved to the United States due to professional and political challenges in Canada.

In a recent episode of Mikhaila Peterson Podcasthosted by his daughter, Peterson cited his feud with the College of Psychologists of Ontario and concerns about a controversial bill targeting hate speech as one of the main reasons for his decision to leave Canada.

Peterson’s departure could be seen as a symbol of conservative discontent some Canadians feel with the country’s governance under Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as his own criticism of the perceived curtailment of free speech.

“The issue with the College of Psychologists is very annoying, to say the least, and the new legislation that the Liberals are trying to push through, Bill C-63, we would all be living in totalitarian hell if it goes through.” Peterson said.

“The fiscal situation is out of hand. The government of Canada at the federal level is incompetent beyond belief and it has become uncomfortable for me in my neighborhood in Toronto,” he added.

Newsweek has reached out to Peterson’s office for comment via email.

Peterson did not specify where in the United States he has moved, 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 in 2022 mandated that he undergo social media communications retraining or face 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 Supreme Court of Canada rejected 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 that it could lead to online speech surveillance and suppression. The Democracy Fund, a Canadian civil liberties charity, said in October that 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 in prison for any hate crime could result in an increase in wrongful convictions.

A 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 get arrested, just the suspicion that you might. Canada is turning into reality what George Orwell called ‘thought crime’ in his dystopian novel 1984” Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, wrote in a column in March. “Cuba, North Korea and other tyrannies applaud.”

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 freedom of expression while advancing its child protection initiatives.

Amnesty International Canada praised the government for the proposed legislation.

“This is a step in the right direction for thoughtful policy-making and robust democratic debate,” Ketty Nivyabandi, secretary-general of Amnesty International Canada’s English-speaking division, said in a statement.

“Separating the contentious sections will make it easier for parliamentarians to address online harm in a way that upholds human rights while protecting freedom of expression and protecting against unintended consequences,” Nivyabandi said.

During his appearance on his daughter’s podcast, Peterson also cited the warmer weather in the United States as a reason for leaving Canada.

“It’s very nice to be in a place where every single day is sunny. There’s something to be said for that,” Peterson said.