Cory Morgan: Other Provinces Should Follow Alberta’s Lead and Rein In Ideological Policing by Regulators

Commentary

Politicians live and die by public opinion. Elections truly are popularity contests when push comes to shove, and it can make many politicians cripplingly risk-averse when it comes to making policy changes that upset advocacy groups.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has bucked the trend, having unwaveringly taken on the woke and defanged their hold on professional associations. In response to the premier’s actions, Albertans have rewarded Smith with increased support in public opinion polls. Other premiers may want to take note.

While diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies have fallen out of favour in the private sector, they are still embraced by many institutions and organizations, including professional associations. The Law Society of Alberta dissolved its DEI committee to remain in compliance with Alberta’s new law. Albertans can feel more comfortable in knowing the body overseeing lawyers in the province will be more focused on competence and ethics rather than ensuring the right mix of minorities are filling spaces in the profession.

The Regulated Professions Neutrality Act—also known as the Peterson law—set overarching principles for how professional regulatory bodies regulate their members. Unfortunately, the provincial government had to create such an intrusive law upon associations, which in theory should govern themselves responsibly without government oversight. As with any sort of bureaucracy, however, many regulatory bodies expanded outside their mandate beyond reasonable expectations. Associations have become tools of activists and cancel culture, used to crush the careers of people for their views outside of their practices rather than any breaches of professional conduct.

Jordan Peterson’s case is the highest-profile one in Canada. The College of Psychologists of Ontario ordered Peterson to complete a remedial program due to complaints focused on some of his comments on social media. Peterson fought the order but lost in the Divisional Court of Ontario. His attempt to appeal the ruling was denied by the Supreme Court of Canada, and he was forced to endure the training program or lose his licence to practice.

While Peterson’s political views could be considered debatable, there was no evidence that those views impacted his ability to practice as a psychologist. The association took him to task on the basis of political incorrectness and won.

In British Columbia, the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives suspended nurse Amy Hamm and ordered her to pay $93,639 in legal costs for her views expressed on social media about transgender people. That led to Hamm’s termination of employment from Vancouver Coastal Health without severance pay. Hamm’s transgression was to have helped to erect a billboard saying, “I love JK Rowling.” Yes, showing open support for one of the most successful and popular authors on the planet is enough for a person to lose a career over.

Had Hamm been refusing to provide aid for transgender people or had she been threatening them, it could be considered something the college should investigate. As with Peterson, though, Hamm’s “crime” was to hold the wrong political view. And, like Peterson, Hamm found no support for her case from the provincial government. Meanwhile, the citizens of B.C. lost a nurse.

Professional bodies can often drift from their mandate of regulating a profession rather than the personal behaviour and views of their members. Many have forgotten the important role they had in the past of protecting professionals from job losses due to race, religion, sexual orientation, or political views. The turnaround is sad and ironic. When this happens, individuals can lose careers, and some professions will have a tougher time filling positions.

In their hearts, most politicians are well aware of the damage being caused through the moral corruption that has seeped into some professional associations. They understand the dangers of letting committees and bureaucracies crush careers based on political wrongthink rather than professional ineptitude. They look the other way, however, as they fear poking the woke mob bear.

Citizens are tired of cancel culture and wokism. They will reward political leaders who show fortitude in standing up to the mob. It usually only takes one to break ranks before the others step forward. That person is Premier Danielle Smith, who ignored the naysayers and intervened when professional organizations lost their path.

Let’s hope premiers, mayors, and other elected officials follow Smith’s lead in standing on principles rather than in fear of activists. The nation will be better for it.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.