Paul Miller (Canadian politician)


Paul Miller 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. 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.
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.

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 as a mechanic-welder-fitter. While at Stelco he was a member of the United Steelworkers, 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. Miller is the husband of Hamilton school trustee Carole Paikin Miller and through her, he is the
brother-in-law of TVOntario host Steve Paikin.

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. 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. On election night, October 10, 2007, Miller defeated Liberal candidate Nerene Virgin.
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.
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 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." The bill was passed into law in the spring of 2011.
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.
Miller was re-elected in the 2011, and 2014 provincial elections.
He is the party's critic for Tourism, Culture and Sport and for the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games.
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.

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:
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 inaction, MPP Paul Miller, asked the premier to give Sears Canada retiree association time to meet.

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 , 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." Bill 17 received Royal Assent on May 5, 2015, and became Protecting Child Performers Act, 2015.

Bill 6

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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.
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, 2016
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”
  • “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!”
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: '
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".
Current Status: September 29, 2016- Second Reading

Critic Roles

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  • Critic, Pensions
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  • Critic, Tourism, Culture and Sport
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  • Critic, Government Services
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  • Critic, Seniors' Issues
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  • Critic, Economic Development and Trade
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Electoral record