Lobbyists fate now rests with a judge

Plus: Moore on vax incentives, cabinet committee shakeup, and Ford goes golfing

Good Wednesday morning. This is Queen’s Park Observer.

ABOVE THE FOLD

Democracy Watch had its day in court against Integrity Commissioner J. DAVID WAKE and his rulings on lobbyists’ activity on Tuesday. It was a tough slog for the group, which is seeking judicial review of nine of Wake’s decisions in which lobbyists were either cleared or not punished for breaking the rules when it comes to registering or conflicts-of-interest. The group alleges Wake was unreasonable and biased in making those moves.

The judge grilled Democracy Watch’s lawyer on its push for public-interest standing on the matter — something Wake’s office argues they don’t qualify for, because it would violate confidentiality statues and reopen already-concluded investigations in a prejudicial manner to the actual lobbyists, who aren’t involved in the case.

The judge said the challenge seemed more to do with what Democracy Watch sees as a weak law, rather than Wake’s specific decision-making — and if the court grante…