Law360 Canada ( May 9, 2025, 2:17 PM EDT) -- Appeal by appellant from a Divisional Court decision that upheld the granting of a motion to quash appellant’s nine judicial review applications. The applications challenged the decisions made by the Ontario Integrity Commissioner (OIC) under the Lobbyists Registration Act (LRA). The LRA regulated lobbyists in Ontario, providing rules and a process for investigation and discipline overseen by the OIC. The Commissioner had broad discretion in conducting investigations and imposing penalties. The confidentiality of investigations was protected under the LRA, with limited public disclosure in the Commissioner’s Annual Report. The appellant challenged nine decisions by the OIC, categorized into four groups based on outcomes. The applications alleged unreasonable interpretation and application of the LRA, particularly concerning the imposition of penalties and potential conflicts of interest. They also raised concerns about institutional bias and the lack of public information under the statutory regime. However, the motion judge quashed the applications, finding that they did not raise a serious justiciable issue and were not a reasonable and effective way to bring the matter to court. The judge emphasized the potential conflict with the private interests of lobbyists and the statutory scheme’s confidentiality provisions. The appellant argued that the motion judge mischaracterized the applications and misapplied the test for public interest standing. The intervenors supported the need for public interest standing to ensure legality. The respondent maintained that the motion judge made no reviewable error....