Coun. Troster calling on Senators to cancel Jordan Peterson’s book tour stop at CTC

One Ottawa city councillor is urging the Ottawa Senators and the Canadian Tire Centre (CTC) to cancel Jordan Peterson's book tour stop in Ottawa, which is taking place next week. 

The controversial Canadian psychology professor and self-help author garnered the attention of many in 2016 when he spoke out against Bill C-16, banning discrimination based on gender identity, and the use of gender-neutral pronouns.

Since then, Peterson has become a YouTube sensation often associated with the far-right movement, though he claims himself to be a liberal.

In 2018, Peterson penned '12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos', which has sold more than four million copies and topped best seller lists in Canada and the United States.

A letter from Councillor @ArielTroster to @CdnTireCtr, @Senators and @caaspeakers, urging them to re-consider booking a speaker who has demonstrated harm to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

This letter can also be viewed on our website here: https://t.co/rHh6xzpHgq pic.twitter.com/Wazp01oBes

— Somerset Ward (@somerset_ward) January 27, 2023

Peterson is now promoting his follow up released in 2021, 'Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life'.

His 'Beyond Order' tour, with almost 100 stops around the world, is coming at the Canadian Tire Centre on January 30. 

Coun. Troster said she was disappointed in the decision to host Peterson in an open letter addressed to the Ottawa Senators, the Canadian Tire Centre and Creative Artists Agency. 

“More than 30 non-profits, charities, businesses and organizations in Ottawa have released a statement condemning this event, due to the well-documented instances where Peterson has made statements that are insulting to and mocking of transgender and gender non-conforming people in Canada and around the world,” Coun. Troster's letter said. ” As recently as last year, he referred to former Somerset Ward councillor McKenney as, 'a thing'. His hateful rhetoric has no place in our city.”

Coun. Troster noted Peterson's vocal support of the 'Freedom Convoy' occupation that took over the streets of downtown Ottawa for nearly one month last winter. 

“During the first week of the convoy alone, businesses in the downtown Ottawa, including the city's busiest and largest shopping mall, the Rideau Centre, lost nearly $20 million, according to the Retail Council of Canada,” the letter said. “Based on a class-action lawsuit against organizers, lawyer Paul Champ estimated that lost wages and revenue in the downtown core totalled at least $306 million.”

Troster pointed to the fact that Ottawa city council passed a motion condemning anti-trans hate in December and that the Senators decision to host Peterson at the Canadian Tire Centre and “directly contradicts the National Hockey League’s stated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.”

“I hope you will re-consider hosting this event and connect with 2SLGBTQ+ community organizations in Ottawa to forge a path forward that ensures that the Canadian Tire Centre is never used as a platform for hate and discrimination,” she said. “Ottawa has seen a rise in hate against 2SLGBTQ+ people in recent years, Jordan Peterson’s event undermines the work that the city and community organizations are doing to create stronger and more equitable communities.”

“Ottawa has seen a rise in hate against 2SLGBTQ+ people in recent years, Jordan Peterson’s event undermines the work that the city and community organizations are doing to create stronger and more equitable communities,” Troster writes, who is the Council Liaison for Women, Gender Equity and 2SLGBTQ+.