Paul Miller (Canadian politician)

Paul Miller
MPP
Paul Miller, Member of the Ontario Provincial Legislature, Hamilton East - Stoney Creek, 2018.
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek
Assumed office
October 10, 2007
Preceded by Riding Established
Personal details
Born (1951-02-07) February 7, 1951
Hamilton, Ontario
Political party New Democratic
Spouse(s) Carole Paikin Miller
Children 3
Occupation Mechanic, Lobbyist, Hamilton City Councilor
Website www.paulmiller.ca

Paul Miller (born February 7, 1951) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a New Democratic member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who was elected in the 2007 provincial election. He represents the riding of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek.

In 2018, questions were raised about Miller's future in Ontario provincial politics after a series of allegations of bullying, racist remarks, and abuse of office resources.[1][2] The same year, a voice recording was released that showed Miller criticizing unions for doing more harm than good after it was reported that he had criticized the loyalty of an employee who took parental leave.[3][4]

Despite recent negative allegations and increased media scrutiny Paul Miller was able to claim his 4th victory in his Hamilton East-Stoney Creek Riding with more that 51 percent of the overall vote.[5]

Background

Miller was born in Hamilton but has lived in Stoney Creek since he was one year old. Miller worked for Hamilton Steel Hilton Works (formerly Stelco, now U.S. Steel Canada) as a mechanic-welder-fitter.[6] While at Stelco he was a member of the United Steelworkers (USW), Local 1005. On behalf of the union, Miller served as a lobbyist on Parliament Hill and at Queen's Park, participating in 9 different campaigns.

MPP Paul Miller and members of the Hamilton Local 1005 chapter of USW protesting for Sears Pensioners.

Miller is related to TVOntario host Steve Paikin through his spouse, Carole Paikin Miller.

Politics

Miller served as a city councillor for two terms in Stoney Creek, Ontario from 1994 to 2000. During his time on council he chaired the Parks and Recreation committee and served as a member on several other committees.[7] As a youth, he worked on the election campaigns of his uncle, former councillor and Hamilton Mayor, Bill Powell. More recently, he worked for 2004 New Democratic Party federal candidate Tony DePaulo, and for 2006 NDP federal candidate and former Member of Parliament Wayne Marston.

On July 12, 2007, he was nominated to run in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek in the 2007 Ontario general election. Miller campaigned on a platform of job retention and a promise to push for an increase in the minimum wage. He also wanted the province to screen companies before they set up in the area. He defeated Hamilton city councillor Sam Merulla for the NDP nomination.[6] On election night, October 10, 2007, Miller defeated Liberal candidate Nerene Virgin.[8]

In April 2008, Miller introduced a private member's bill that proposed to create a severance fund for workers who were owed money when their companies closed. The fund would be used to cover severances, vacation pay and other items owed to workers. Miller said, "It would allow people ... to have a little bit of a nest egg to hold them over until they get retrained or find another job." The proposed fund which would have been financed by existing companies was criticized by Labour Minister Brad Duguid, who said the fund was "nothing short of a payroll tax" and that it was "irresponsible in this economy to jack up taxes on businesses, in particular in the manufacturing sector." The proposed bill was shelved by a government committee.[9]

In 2010, Miller introduced another private member's bill called the Eramosa Karst Feeder Lands Protection Act, 2010 that would protect land near the Eramosa Karst formation. Though he was a member of the NDP, Miller introduced the bill jointly with Niagara West-Glanbrook MPP (and Ontario PC Party leader) Tim Hudak. The bill proposed to permanently protect land occupied by streams that feed into the karst formation. The land owned by the Ontario Realty Corporation was designated for possible residential development. Miller called the lands a "geological wonder". He said, "These lands are the lifeline for the Eramosa Karst... we must move now to preserve the Eramosa Karst feeder lands."[10] The bill was passed into law in the spring of 2011.[11]

In 2013, Miller was at the centre of a controversy within Queen's Park when Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath sent Paul Miller to the back bench after a dispute between the two politicians.[12]

Miller was re-elected in the 2011, and 2014 provincial elections.[13][14]

MPP Paul Miller speaking in the Ontario Legislature, 2017.

He is the party's critic for Tourism, Culture and Sport and for the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games.[15]

A Human Rights complaint was filed against Miller in April 2018. A statement to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario claims Miller regularly displays sexist, racist and homophobic behaviour.[16][17]

Advocating for Pensioners

Pensions critic, Paul Miller, is demanding the Liberal government to scrap its latest pension scheme – one that will put pensions at risk by cutting funding requirements.

He mentions:

  • "Dropping pension solvency funding targets means workers will have even less certainty that their pensions will be there when they retire.”[18]
  • “Reducing the solvency funding target by 15% erodes this important pension protection and virtually ensures tragedies like Nortel, US Steel and Sears will be even more painful in the future.”[18]
  • "For the sake of pensioners, do not reduce pension solvency funding requirements. Doing so would be a slap in the face to pensioners who have worked their whole life for their pension and deserve to receive the benefits they were promised.”[18]

Mr. Miller’s calls on the Liberal Finance Minister to remove Schedule 33 from Bill 177, and give pensioners a say in the future of their plans.

Seeing as the Sears Canada pension plan is registered in Ontario, the Ontario Provincial Government has a great deal of power to determine the future of Sears employees. In response to the Premier’s (Kathleen Wynne) inaction, MPP Paul Miller, asked the premier to give Sears Canada retiree association time to meet.[19]

View Letter to Premier

Bills Sponsored in Ontario Legislature

Bill 8

On June 19, 2012, Bill 8, Call Before You Dig, One Call, received Royal Assent, a bi-partisan Private Member's Bill putting safety first, established by Paul Miller, NDP MPP, and Bob Bailey, PC MPP for Sarnia.

Bill 125

IN 2014, Bill 125, the Lincoln Alexander's Day Act, established January 21 of each year a day to celebrate Hamiltonian Lincoln Alexander...a bi-partisan Bill by Paul MIller, PC Ted Arnott, and Liberal, Bas Baldissoon.

Bill 17

On July 16, 2014, Paul Miller introduced Bill 17, The Protecting Child Performers Act, to create the first legislated protections for child performers in Ontario's live and recorded entertainment industry. Child performers are the only form of child workers that the Government of Ontario recognizes. "This historic legislation contains provisions to protect a portion of minors’ income, ensure their education is not compromised, guarantees parental supervision, age-appropriate hours of work and breaks, and health and safety measures."[20] Bill 17 received Royal Assent on May 5, 2015, and became Protecting Child Performers Act, 2015.[21]

Bill 6

An Act to amend the Ministry of Community and Social Services Act to establish the Social Assistance Research Commission

Mr. Miller took on the obligation to create a bill, emphasizing on the government to make a standing commission, yearly that would look at the costs of living in various economic regions in Ontario.The bill would educate social assistance rates and also look at dangerous work and WSIB.[22]

The legislature started off by being called 185 and since it was prorogued in September 2016, the legislature died.

However, MPP Paul Miller, immediately re-introduced the same Bill, which is now called: Bill 6, Ministry of Community and Social Services Amendment Act (Social Assistance Research Commission), 2016

MPP Paul Miller alongside poverty reduction advocates from Hamilton rallying to support Bill 185 now called Bill 6.

Mr. Miller has made many statements on the Bill, such as:

  • “This bill is going to create an evidence based research commission that would make recommendations to our government on what Ontario’s social assistance rates should be year to year and in each region. This is an effective way to deal with poverty”[23]
  • “I stand in the House today not with a question, but a request of the Government,” said Miller. “Don’t let impoverished Ontarians continue to suffer. Do the right thing and bring Bill 6 forward!”[23]

Moreover, Mr. Miller announced that the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction, in partnership with various community organizers, had released a video to promote Bill 6 and get the legislature to move forward so that all Ontarian's living in poverty have access to the basic necessities.

Video: Bill 6: Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction

Tom Cooper, Director of the Hamilton Round Table for Poverty Reduction, also made it clear that this video would help raise awareness for Bill 6 as, “Bill 6 provides a non-partisan, evidence-based framework to help the government establish social assistance adequacy. Currently rates for Ontario Works and ODSP fall hundreds of dollars behind the costs of shelter, food, hygiene products, clothing or other essentials in Ontario communities".[24]

Current Status: September 29, 2016- Second Reading [25]

Critic Roles

  • Critic, Poverty Reduction

(December 02, 2016 — Present)

  • Critic, Pensions

(December 02, 2016 — Present)

(November 09, 2007 — September 07, 2011)

  • Critic, Tourism, Culture and Sport

(September 10, 2013 — December 02, 2016)

  • Critic, 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games

(June 24, 2014 — January 01, 2016)

  • Critic, Government Services

(October 25, 2011 — September 10, 2013)

  • Critic, Tourism and Culture

(October 25, 2011 — September 10, 2013)

  • Critic, Seniors' Issues

(April 01, 2009 — September 07, 2011)

  • Critic, Government Services

(April 01, 2009 — September 07, 2011)

  • Critic, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario

(November 09, 2007 — September 07, 2011)

  • Critic, Tourism, Recreation and Sport

(November 09, 2007 — September 07, 2011)

  • Critic, Economic Development and Trade

(November 09, 2007 — April 01, 2009)

Electoral record

Ontario general election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticPaul Miller22,51851.23+4.42
LiberalJennifer Stebbing5,32012.10-17.06
Progressive ConservativeAkash Grewal12,63428.74+10.98
GreenBrian Munroe1,7424.26+1.92
LibertarianAllan Deroo7151.63+0.04
None of the Above Direct Democracy PartyLinda Chenoweth6591.50
Total valid votes 43,588100.0  
https://www.elections.on.ca/content/ngw/en/election-results/hamilton-east-stoney-creek.html
Ontario general election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticPaul Miller19,95846.81-4.91
LiberalIvan Luksic12,43329.16+2.86
Progressive ConservativeDavid Brown7,57417.76-0.95
GreenGreg Zink1,7424.09+2.34
LibertarianMark Burnison6761.59+0.84
FreedomBritney Anne Johnston2540.60+0.26
Total valid votes 42,637100.0  
New Democratic hold Swing -3.88
Source: Elections Ontario[26]
Ontario general election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticPaul Miller20,36151.6+14.0
LiberalMark Cripps10,36726.3-8.8
Progressive ConservativeNancy Fiorintino7,42918.8-2.5
GreenW. Peter Randall6891.7-3.2
LibertarianGreg Pattinson3050.8
Family CoalitionBob Green Innes1730.4-0.6
FreedomPhilip Doucette1330.3
Total valid votes 39,457 100.0
Ontario general election, 2007
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticPaul Miller16,25637.6
LiberalNerene Virgin15,17135.1
Progressive ConservativeTara Crugnale9,19521.3
GreenRaymond Dartsch2,1224.9
Family CoalitionRobert Innes4511.0
Total valid votes 43,195 100.0

References

  1. ↑ "NDP employee says Hamilton MPP bullied him and made racist comments | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  2. ↑ "Human rights trial for two Hamilton NDP candidates". CHCH. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  3. ↑ "New Democrat MPP Paul Miller blasts staff's union in spat over parental leave". Toronto Sun. 2018-04-19. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  4. ↑ Thompson, Shonia (April 19, 2018). "Voicemail comes back to haunt Hamilton NDP MPP". Global News. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  5. ↑ Pearson, Mike (2018-06-07). "NDP MPP Paul Miller rises to victory in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek". HamiltonNews.com. Retrieved 2018-06-11.
  6. 1 2 Nolan, Daniel (13 July 2007). "Merulla loses bid for NDP nod". Hamilton Spectator.
  7. ↑ About Paul Archived 2012-01-29 at the Wayback Machine., Paul Miller, MPP for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek.
  8. ↑ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 10, 2007. p. 6 (xv). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2009. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  9. ↑ Powell, Naomi (8 April 2008). "Committee shelves bill on severance fund for workers". Hamilton Spectator.
  10. ↑ "Unique karst threatened, MPP worries". Hamilton Spectator. 27 January 2011.
  11. ↑ Hudak, Tim (5 April 2011). "Congrats on victory to protect Eramosa Karst". The Sachem / Glanbrook Gazette.
  12. ↑ "Hamilton New Democrat Paul Miller benched by NDP's Horwath | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  13. ↑ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  14. ↑ "General Election by District: Hamilton East-Stoney Creek". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014. Archived from the original on September 23, 2014.
  15. ↑ Reevely, David (June 25, 2014). "Horwath sticks around, names NDP shadow cabinet".
  16. ↑ Halliday, Spencer (April 12, 2018). "NDP rights complaint".
  17. ↑ Craggs, Samantha (April 12, 2018). "Horwath reserving judgment after damning allegations from NDP staffers".
  18. 1 2 3 "MPP Miller to Liberal finance minister: Reducing pension funding requirements will hurt pensioners and their families". Paul Miller. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  19. ↑ ""WHY WON`T YOU MEET WITH SEARS RETIREES MADAME PREMIER?"". Paul Miller. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  20. ↑ "Protect Child Performers | ACTRA Toronto". www.actratoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  21. ↑ "Law Document English View". Ontario.ca. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  22. ↑ "About – Fix The Gap". fixthegap.hamiltonpoverty.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  23. 1 2 "MPP Paul Miller speaks to get Bill 6 moving". Paul Miller. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  24. ↑ "MPP Paul Miller and Hamilton Round Table for Poverty Reduction: Move Bill 6 forward right now". Paul Miller. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  25. ↑ "Bill 6, Ministry of Community and Social Services Amendment Act (Social Assistance Research Commission), 2016".
  26. ↑ Elections Ontario (2014). "Official result from the records, 032 Hamilton East—Stoney Creek" (PDF). Retrieved 27 June 2015.
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