The veteran NDP MPP (pictured left) was removed from the party only weeks before writ drop on March 17. Photo credit: CBC/Samantha Craggs
The Hamilton East-Stoney Creek Ontario NDP have a nomination date: Tuesday, April 19. They also have at least one nomination candidate: Zaigham Butt.
This new development is part of a weeks-long saga involving the Ontario NDP and MPP Paul Miller who was kicked out of the party for allegedly being part of a Facebook group called “Worldwide Coalition Against Islam” and for what the NDP calls a concerning “pattern of behaviour.” MPP Miller says that he will run as an independent in the June 2 provincial election.
NEW CANDIDATE
The establishment of a nomination date for the Ontario NDP in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek means that we will soon officially know who will take Miller’s place under the NDP banner. So far, there is only one candidate seeking the NDP nomination, but there could be others by the time the April 19 meeting is called to order.
The only approved nomination candidate as of yet, Zaigham Butt, is a 28-year-old accountant who was recently awarded the Order of Hamilton and whose father, Zahid Butt, is the president of the Ontario NDP Electoral District Association in the riding.
Interestingly enough, when MPP Miller was first ousted from the NDP in late March, Zahid supported Miller saying that the longtime MPP “did nothing wrong.” Now that his son is seeking the nomination as the new candidate, Zahid has noticeably changed his stance and says that kicking Miller out of the Ontario NDP was the right decision.
WHY BOOT MILLER?
The NDP’s decision to boot Miller still merits further exploration. Sure, we have heard the official statement by the party that Miller was part of a Facebook group called “Worldwide Coalition Against Islam”, but Miller claims that he has never managed his own social media, his staffers have, and that no one in his position would ever join such a group.
But is there more to the decision to boot Miller? As the story goes, and as the NDP also explained, there was a “pattern of behaviour” that contributed to their decision to kick him out of the party. Here’s what we know.
WHAT WE KNOW
First, in 2018, Miller was accused of bullying 11-year NDP staffer Todd White. The allegations of workplace bullying and discrimination also came with accusations that Miller had made racist and homophobic remarks. The result of that was a settlement in 2019, the details of which are confidential.
Yet even with those allegations, Miller went on to win the 2018 election with one of his strongest campaigns to date, earning 51.15 per cent of the vote.
Second, in 2020, Miller’s wife Carole Paikin Miller, a public school board trustee, was sanctioned and faced calls to resign after allegations that she had made anti-Muslim remarks.
And third, Paikin Miller was also censured after she included her husband in a private school board meeting. The report that came out of that incident stated that both Paikin Miller and MPP Miller were “scoffing and muttering under their breath in indignation” during the virtual meeting discussion of anti-Black racism and policing in schools.
So, the NDP’s claim that MPP Miller has displayed a concerning pattern of behaviour does have at least some merit to it. Whether or not that’s enough to warrant him being booted by the party is another question.
MILLER’S FUTURE
Nevertheless, Miller’s move to run as an independent candidate means that the left-wing vote will be split three ways rather than the usual two-way split. Left-wing voters will have to choose between Miller (Independent), the NDP, and the Liberals, making Hamilton East-Stoney Creek one of the most interesting ridings to watch in the upcoming June provincial election.
Can Miller win as an independent? He certainly has a good chance and some union leaders have already said that they’ll continue to support him.
On the other hand, some are also already speculating about what will happen if Miller loses. He is after all a former Stoney Creek councillor, and Hamilton City Council Ward 5 is an open seat since former Councillor Chad Collins is now a Member of Parliament.
It wouldn’t be that much of a demotion for him pay-wise, and his determination to run as an independent indicates that he is not yet ready to retire from politics and could mount a council campaign.
He could also decide to run in the ward where he currently lives, Ward 11 (Binbrook) which is also an open seat with Brenda Johnson choosing not to run again.
All of that remains to be seen. But for now, we have one date set in stone: the NDP nomination next Tuesday. After that meeting, we’ll know who will be under the NDP banner and from there the rest of the saga can unfold.
Based in Hamilton, Ontario, Kevin Geenen reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He is a regular contributor with The Hamilton Independent and has also been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, Niagara Independent, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. He is known for Hamilton crime updates and social media news graphics. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal from Governor General David Johnston. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. In March 2022, Kevin started working as an Office Administrator at RE/MAX. Kevin’s journalism work continues to be independent of his other jobs.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
