A candidate background search found that Hamilton MPP Paul Miller was reportedly a member of a Facebook group called ‘Worldwide Coalition Against Islam’. Miller denies all allegations. Photo credit: Ontario Legislative Assembly
On March 17, Andrea Horwath and the Ontario NDP announced that 15-year veteran MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek Paul Miller was no longer in the party, citing “unacceptable” information found during a candidate background search ahead of June’s provincial election.
While the party did not immediately reveal the alleged information, provincial director of the Ontario NDP Lucy Watson came out on Wednesday with a more detailed explanation for Miller’s expulsion.
In full, Watson’s statement read:
“After a pattern of troubling behavior that indicated that Paul Miller may harbour Islamophobic, homophobic and racist views, our party’s vetting process showed that Mr. Miller was a member of the Facebook group called Worldwide Coalition Against Islam.
It’s well established that in 2018, a complaint from a staff member was made regarding Paul Miller to the Human Rights Tribunal. While the matter was satisfactorily resolved according to all parties, those allegations included racist and homophobic remarks.
Our party’s express expectation was that his behaviour needed to change. For a period of time it did. There were no public or private complaints of homophobic, racist or Islamophobic behaviour.
However, the revelations made by an investigation surrounding the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board continued the old pattern. While Mr. Miller made no direct public statements, his behaviour and attitude were noted in the independent investigation.
This pattern of behaviour crossed any reasonable line when Mr. Miller’s vet was recently finalized. His membership in the Facebook group called Worldwide Coalition Against Islam was discovered.
Any other candidate and any other caucus member — in any context and attempting to run for any reasonable party — would be disqualified for ever having been a member of an Islamophobic, racist group.
In our party, any New Democrat can run for the nomination in any riding, regardless of whether it’s an incumbent seat or not.”
For his part, Miller maintains his innocence, claiming he doesn’t control his social media. Just prior to release of the NDP’s formal statement on Wednesday, Miller told reporters at Queen’s Park that he’s a victim of “cancel culture”.
“I don’t know this group; I don’t know anything about it. It’s absolutely absurd,” said Miller.
“In all the years I’ve been in politics, I have never posted anything on Twitter or Facebook, frankly, I’m not that great on the internet. My staff always did it. So, if there’s anything on there, it would’ve been former staff who I had difficulties with before, some were let go or fired, present staff would have access and the NDP would have access through the vetting process”.
With the next provincial election just over two months away, it’s not known who will fill Miller’s place on the NDP ticket in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek.
Miller, 71, intends to stay in the race as an independent. He’ll face off against his NDP successor, Ontario PC Party candidate Neil Lumsden, and None of the Above Party candidate Brian Ricciut. The Ontario Liberals and Greens have yet to nominate a contender for the riding.
