NDP MPP Paul Miller booted from caucus

Paul Miller, who was elected in 2007 in the riding of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek and has served 15 years as an NDP MPP, is being booted from caucus.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath said in a statement released Thursday that “new information” found during Miller’s vetting process as a candidate for the upcoming election was “clearly unacceptable.”

Miller had been accused of “racist, sexist and homophobic comments” in a human rights complaint filed against him in 2018, but that case was settled in arbitration. In February, Miller told a columnist at the Hamilton Spectator, that while the party is usually quick to approve incumbents as candidates, “in this case there’s something going on and I’m not sure.”

A source close to the matter was able to confirm to QP Briefing that the human rights complaint was not the incident that got Miller tossed from caucus and that the vetting process’ findings happened after the 2018 election.

Nominations for candidates in the provincial election close on May 12 at 2 p.m. The NDP has not yet announced a replacement candidate for Miller.

QP Briefing reached out to Miller’s office but did not get a response before this story was published.