Preceded by Riding Established Name Paul Miller Political party New Democrat Role Politician | Children 3 Spouse Carole Miller Occupation Mechanic, lobbyist | |
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Born February 7, 1951 (age 73)
Hamilton, Ontario ( 1951-02-07 ) Party Ontario New Democratic Party Residence Glanbrook Township, Ontario, Canada Profiles | ||
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.
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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. 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. He lives in Glanbrook, Ontario with his wife 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. 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.
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 (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." The bill was passed into law in the spring of 2011.
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.
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.
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.
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." Bill 17 received Royal Assent on May 5, 2015, and became Protecting Child Performers Act, 2015.
April 15, 2016, Paul's Bill 185, anti-poverty private members bill to set up a commission to research how much social assistance people actually need to live passed second reading.