Premier Ford's motion for a dismissal of the action In applying the tests under s. 137.1, Justice Belobaba found that Premier Ford's burden to meet the test that the claim involved a matter of public interest was easily met and there was no dispute on this issue between the parties. This shifted the onus onto the plaintiff to meet his burdens under the section. The issue of “substantial merit” was not argued as the court directed before the hearing of the motion that only the issues of “no valid defence” and the weighing exercise under s. 137.1(4)(b) required consideration. Premier Ford contended that his alleged defamatory expression