Case information
Conduct a refined search of the Supreme Court of Canada database to obtain details on the status of a matter before the Court.
41788
Democracy Watch v. Ontario Integrity Commissioner
(Ontario) (Civil) (By Leave)
Docket
Judgments on applications for leave to appeal are rendered by the Court, but are not necessarily unanimous.
| Date | Proceeding | Filed By (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-09-19 | Close file on Leave | |
| 2025-09-18 | Copy of formal judgment sent to Registrar of the Court of Appeal and all parties | |
| 2025-09-18 | Judgment on leave sent to the parties | |
| 2025-09-18 |
Judgment of the Court on the application for leave to appeal, The application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Number COA-23-CV-0858, 2025 ONCA 153, dated February 28, 2025, is dismissed with costs. Dismissed, with costs |
|
| 2025-08-25 | All materials on application for leave submitted to the Judges, for consideration by the Court | |
| 2025-06-09 |
Applicant's reply to respondent's argument, (Letter Form), Missing: - Proof of service (Received June 11, 2025), Completed on: 2025-06-11, (Printed version filed on 2025-06-10) |
Democracy Watch |
| 2025-05-30 | Certificate (on limitations to public access), (Letter Form), 23A, (Printed version filed on 2025-06-02) | Ontario Integrity Commissioner |
| 2025-05-30 | Notice of name, (Letter Form), (Printed version filed on 2025-06-02) | Ontario Integrity Commissioner |
| 2025-05-30 |
Respondent's response on the application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), MISSING : -Proof of service (Rec'd 2025-05-30), Completed on: 2025-06-02, (Printed version filed on 2025-06-02) |
Ontario Integrity Commissioner |
| 2025-05-07 | Lower court order - e-filing, (Letter Form), Court of Appeal Order, (Printed version filed on 2025-05-08) | Democracy Watch |
| 2025-05-02 | Correspondence received from, (Letter Form), CA Order Form | Democracy Watch |
| 2025-05-01 | Letter acknowledging receipt of an incomplete application for leave to appeal and without formal Court of Appeal order, FILE OPENED | |
| 2025-04-29 | Notice of name, (Letter Form), (Printed version filed on 2025-05-05) | Democracy Watch |
| 2025-04-29 | Certificate (on limitations to public access), (Letter Form), Form 23A, (Printed version filed on 2025-05-05) | Democracy Watch |
| 2025-04-29 |
Application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), Missing: - CA Order (Rec'd 2025-09-07) - New cover pages with correct style of cause (Rec'd 2025-09-07), Completed on: 2025-05-09, (Printed version filed on 2025-05-08) |
Democracy Watch |
Parties
Please note that in the case of closed files, the “Status” column reflects the status of the parties at the time of the proceedings. For more information about the proceedings and about the dates when the file was open, please consult the docket of the case in question.
Main parties
| Name | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Democracy Watch | Applicant | Active |
v.
| Name | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario Integrity Commissioner | Respondent | Active |
Counsel
Party: Democracy Watch
Counsel
Nick Papageorge
1 King Street West
10th floor
Hamilton, Ontario
L8P 1A4
Telephone: (905) 526-9800
FAX: (905) 526-0732
Email: wpoziomka@rossmcbride.com
Party: Ontario Integrity Commissioner
Counsel
Stephen Aylward
TD North Tower, suite 4130
77 King Street West, P.O. Box 140
Toronto, Ontario
M5K 1H1
Telephone: (416) 593-3494
FAX: (416) 593-9345
Email: justins@stockwoods.ca
Summary
Keywords
Administrative law — Judicial review — Civil procedure — Parties — Public interest standing — Applications sought judicial review of nine decisions rendered by Ontario Integrity Commissioner pursuant to the Lobbyists Registration Act, 1998, S.O. 1998, c. 27 — Lower courts finding no standing to bring applications — Whether lower courts erred in applying public interest standing test.
Summary
Case summaries are prepared by the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada (Law Branch). Please note that summaries are not provided to the Judges of the Court. They are placed on the Court file and website for information purposes only.
The applicant, Democracy Watch (“DW”), is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that advocates for democratic reform, government accountability, and corporate responsibility. DW sought judicial review of nine decisions rendered by the respondent, the Ontario Integrity Commissioner pursuant to the Lobbyists Registration Act, 1998, S.O. 1998, c. 27 (“LRA”) set out in the form of brief summaries in the Commissioner’s Annual Report 2019-2020.
The motion judge granted the Commissioner’s motion to quash the nine judicial review applications which DW brought on the basis that DW lacked the public interest standing necessary to bring the applications.
DW brought a motion for an order setting aside the motion judge’s decision before a panel of the Divisional Court. The Divisional Court dismissed the motion.
DW appealed to the Court of Appeal and the appeal was dismissed.
Lower court rulings
Ontario Superior Court of Justice
2021 ONSC 7383
Commissioner’s motion to quash nine applications for judicial review granted on basis Democracy Watch has no standing to bring applications. Democracy Watch’s motion for a record of proceeding dismissed.
Motion to set aside order of Favreau J. dismissed.
Appeal dismissed.
Filed documents
The memorandums of argument on an application for leave to appeal will be posted here 30 days after leave to appeal has been granted unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of the memorandum by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.
If you have questions about a memorandum of argument or want to use a memorandum of argument, please contact the author of the memorandum of argument directly. Their name appears at the end of the memorandum of argument. The contact information for counsel is found in the “Counsel” tab of this page.
Downloadable PDFs
Not available
Related links
The factums of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here at least 2 weeks before the hearing unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of factums by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.
If you have questions about a factum or want permission to use a factum, please contact the author of the factum directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each factum.
Downloadable PDFs
Not available
Related links
The condensed books of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here upon receipt of the electronic version, 2 days prior to the scheduled appeal hearing. You may also obtain copies of condensed books by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.
If you have questions about a condensed book or want permission to use a condensed book, please contact the author of the condensed book directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each condensed book.
Downloadable PDFs
Not available