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When it comes to free expression in Canadian institutions, consistency matters. Yet sometimes it appears as if some people are freer to express their opinions than others. I could not help but think about Jordan Peterson’s outrageous and often hurtful social media posts when the University of Toronto put Ruth Marshall on academic leave over a single post on X.

Jordan Peterson built a massive platform by railing against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and dismissing systemic racism. In one tweet, he wrote:

“Reverse racism Is the new tolerance
Evil camouflages itself
Eternally in the cloak of goodness
That’s the subtlety of The serpent.”
— @jordanbpeterson on X, Sept. 2, 2023

He also expressed similar hostile views about transgender people.

The College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO) determined that Peterson had crossed a line as a regulated professional. They required him to undergo remedial coaching / media training to maintain his license (Toronto Star, June 2023).

In August 2023, the Ontario Divisional Court upheld this order, ruling that it was a “proportionate balance” between free expression and professional responsibility (CBC News, Aug. 23, 2023).

Throughout all this, the University of Toronto remained silent. Peterson was not suspended, investigated, or put on leave by his employer. His eventual departure came on his own terms, when he retired and took emeritus status in 2022 (The Varsity, Jan. 23, 2022).

Contrast this with the case of Professor Ruth Marshall. After Charlie Kirk’s assassination in September 2025 (NBC News, Sept. 13, 2025), she tweeted in anger that “shooting is too good for so many of you fascist c**ts.”

The tweet was ugly, emotional, and poorly phrased. She could certainly have benefitted from guidance about the limits of Canadian free expression before posting it (Replication Index, Sept. 19, 2025). However, it was one post, not a sustained campaign.

UofT acted immediately: placing her on leave and launching an investigation into “reputational harm” (The Tribune, Sept. 22, 2025).

I cannot help but see a double standard here. Jordan Peterson was allowed to express racially harmful views for years without consequence; Ruth Marshall was put on leave over a single tweet that could be misinterpreted, if taken literally, as inciting violence.

No immediate actions also follow when Fox News commentators suggest killing all the homeless or bombing the UN. That may be explained by differences in American and Canadian free speech law, but it still shows that not everyone pays a price for speech deemed unacceptable by those in power.

The response by the College of Psychologists of Ontario shows a more sensible path. When social media posts cross a line, the first response should be education, not exile. Individuals should be given the chance to apologize and receive training to ensure they understand what they can and cannot say. Organizations should also provide clear guidelines about where the line falls between protected free speech and speech that is not acceptable.

There are currently no updates on the investigation of Ruth Marshall by UofT, but I hope both sides can resolve this issue. More importantly, I hope UofT will provide its employees with clear, consistent guidelines that ensure fairness so that institutional actions are balanced, and free expression is applied equally.

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