Paul Miller

Paul Miller
Paul Miller at an ONDP event in August 2009
MPP for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek
Incumbent
Assumed office October 30, 2007
Preceded by	first member
Personal details
Born	February 7, 1951 (1951-02-07) (age 61) Hamilton, Ontario
Political party	New Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Carole[1]
Children	3
Residence	Stoney Creek, Ontario
Occupation	Mechanic, lobbyist

Paul Miller (born February 7, 1951) is a politician in Hamilton, Ontario, and Member of Provincial Parliament representing the provincial constituency of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Miller belongs to the Ontario New Democratic Party. Currently in opposition Miller serves in the party's shadow cabinet as critic for several portfolios including Economic Development & Trade and Pensions. He also serves as vice chair of the legislature's Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills.

Miller was elected in the 2007 Ontario general election defeating high profile Liberal candidate Nerene Virgin.

Background

Miller was born in Hamilton but has lived in Stoney Creek for most of his life. He is married with three daughters. Miller worked for Hamilton Steel Hilton Works (formerly Stelco, now U.S. Steel Canada) as a mechanic-welder-fitter.^[2] 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.

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.^[1] 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 now Member of Parliament Wayne Marston.

Provincial politics

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 setup in the area. He defeated Hamilton city councillor Sam Merulla for the NDP nomination.^[2] 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.^[3]

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 would 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."^[4] The bill was passed into law in the spring of 2011.^[5]

Electoral record

References

• Daniel Nolan, "NDP takes Hamilton East-Stoney Creek," Hamilton Spectator, October 11, 2007.
• Kevin Werner, "Alliance pushes Miller over the top," Stoney Creek News, July 20, 2007.
• Andrew Dreschel, "Sam chokes on his own combo platter", Hamilton Spectator, July 16, 2007.

External links

• Miller's personal website
• Ontario Legislative Assembly Parliamentarian History

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