Latest News - Paul Miller

Fresh off the Presses! Check out MPP Miller's Newest Newsletter

Paul Miller — Wed, 02 May 2018 16:50:00 -0400

Check out MPP Miller's Newest Newsletter

Miller to Wynne: As ‘renovictions’ worsen housing crisis, action needed on social assistance rates

Paul Miller — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 16:25:58 -0400

MPP Paul Miller to join Toronto stop of NDP MP Scott Duvall’s End Pension Theft Tour

Paul Miller — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 10:14:00 -0400

MPP Paul Miller tables key social assistance legislation for the third time: Renamed Bill 30

Paul Miller — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 16:50:00 -0400

We Need Better Healthcare in Hamilton

Office of Paul Miller — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 16:52:00 -0400

MPP Paul Miller speaking up for nurses and health advocates

My article from the Stoney Creek News in September:

Dear Friends and Neighbours,

It has been an excellent summer. With the Ontario Legislature in recess, I have been fortunate to be able to spend even more time in our wonderful area of Hamilton East and Stoney Creek. I’ve talked with many of you out and about at various events, including the Winona Peach festival, and at my constituency office. It has been really great to get to know you and your concerns that much better. If ever you need to talk, feel free to drop by my office. My door is always open!

In this article, I really want to focus on a very serious issue that needs to be addressed: funding shortfalls for hospitals in the Hamilton area. Over the past few years, I have heard some heart-wrenching stories about our medical care system failing patients. How has this problem continued on for so long? Delayed ambulances, nursing shortages, hallway medicine, lengthy wait times for surgery; these are just some of the things that have prevented people from receiving the service that they need and deserve. Ironically, it’s enough to make one feel sick.

Well, the brutal reality is that this situation is about to get a lot worse. Despite recent announcements from the Liberals that more money is coming, Hamilton’s hospitals and medical research facilities are actually going to see their funding cut to the tune of $27,000,000 this year. Since 2011, Hamilton Health Sciences have been especially hard hit, having been required to cut costs by $120,000,000.

As a member of the NDP, I am proud that our party is not standing for this. We are holding the Liberals’ feet to the fire, calling on them to start investing in our health care system. The NDP has committed to placing a moratorium on further layoffs of nurses and frontline health care professionals. We will cease cuts to hospitals and ensure, at a minimum, that funding keeps up with inflation, population increases, and our city and province’s unique health needs. We also believe home-care and universal pharmacare must be given more priority in a time when Ontario’s population is aging. It is important to note that the Liberal phramacare program is a half measure. Anyone between the ages of 25 and 65 are not covered.

My NDP colleagues and I refuse to accept that an already underfunded heath system needs to be cut down to the bone. Citizens pay taxes with the expectation that they will receive the necessary services to live comfortable lives and have access to quality medical care. It is up to this government to hold up their end of the bargain; to provide these essential services.

I am optimistic that one day, this will change. That Ontario won’t just focus on putting out ‘medical funding’ fires as they ignite, but invest in Hamilton’s healthcare system for the long term. The reality is that we need better healthcare in this city. Our lives depend on it.

Paul Miller

MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek

Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MPP will keep fighting for Bill 6

Paul Miller — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 13:47:00 -0400

NDP’s MPP Paul Miller calling out government for dwindling WSIB coverage and underhanded tricks

Paul Miller — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 16:47:00 -0500

“WHY WON`T YOU MEET WITH SEARS RETIREES MADAME PREMIER?”

Paul Miller — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 14:55:00 -0500

HAMILTON EAST – After reaching out to the provincial government, the SCRG, a Sears Canada retiree association, has not yet been able to meet with Premier Kathleen Wynne to discuss several proposals that could potentially save Sears pensions. Seeing as the Sears Canada pension plan is registered in Ontario, the Ontario Provincial Government has a great deal of power to determine the future of Sears employees. In response to the Premier’s inaction, New Democrat MPP and pension critic Paul Miller asked the premier to give SCRG time to meet.

Premier Kathleen Wynne Room 281, Main Legislative Building Queen’s Park

Dear Premier Wynne,

I am writing to you on behalf of Ontario New Democrats to urge you to meet with Sears Canada Retiree Association (SCRG) to discuss pressing concerns with the Sears Canada pension plan. SCRG represents 16,000 Sears pensioners across Canada, many of whom reside in Ontario.

The recent bankruptcy of Sears Canada Inc. and the closure of over a hundred Sears locations has put nearly 12,000 Canadians out of work. To add to the stress Sears employees face in the wake of losing their livelihoods, the Sears Canada pension plan is underfunded to the tune of $270 million. Sears employees and pensioners are rightfully concerned that they will not see the full pension benefits they were promised. Pension benefits are deferred wages and Sears pensioners deserve the benefits they have worked their whole lives for.

Given that the Sears Canada pension plan is registered with FSCO this is a matter of provincial concern. FSCO was responsible for the plan’s oversight while it moved into an underfunded position, leaving plan members vulnerable. SCRG has approached both your office and FSCO to propose legitimate relief mechanisms for hardworking pensioners. It is time that you stop stalling and start listening to their concerns! I urge you to meet with SCRG and work with Sears pensioners to come up with meaningful solutions so that pensioner won’t suffer from inaction.

Sincerely,

Paul Miller, Hamilton East-Stoney Creek

MPP Miller: Hydro bills are pricey, but with the right changes they sure don’t have to be!

Paul Miller — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 17:09:00 -0500

It’s been a wonderful holiday season! Our community of Hamilton East and Stoney Creek really does come alive this time of year. Whether I was out at one of the many events being hosted in our area or at home celebrating with family and friends, one really must be appreciative that we live in such a wonderful place.

One of the things I always notice this time of year is the Christmas lights. I’m always fascinated to see what creative designs some of us come up with. However, like with many other aspects of the holiday season, the bill to keep those Christmas lights going can be expensive. Whether it’s the lights, the stove to cook the big turkey, the heater, or the car start plug-in, our hydro bill over the holiday season often spikes.

Over the past few years our hydro prices during the holidays, and all times of year for that matter, have started to climb much higher relative to what they used to be. This is in large part due to the increased privatization of the provincially operated Hydro One Corporation which provides power to utility companies across the province including Horizon Utilities Corporation in our area.

The sale of Hydro One in exchange for immediate payout might appear to be a great plan on the surface, but there are going to be real problems that arise from this decision down the line. To start, the revenue stream that Hydro One provided to the provincial government is going to be significantly slashed. Over the next few years the payout gained from this sale will be peanuts compared to what that 60% ownership is worth in annual revenue.

Arguably, just as terrible will be the government’s loss of control over Hydro One. With ‘profit over people’ in mind for Ontario’s ever privatizing Hydro Corporation, it will only be a matter of time before outages become more common and hydro rates continue to skyrocket. Early signs of these trends are already becoming evident.

It was only a week or two ago that the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) ordered Hydro One to lower its most recently planned transmission rate increase of 4.8% for 2018. However, as the provincial government and public lose full control over Hydro One, intense rate hikes of this nature could become a reality.

We need a plan that is going to work, that will benefit all Ontarians in the long run and protect one of our province’s most valuable resources. As has been suggested by my fellow New Democrats, our provincial government needs to return Hydro One to public ownership. Through this plan, and other measures, we can reduce hydro prices by as much as 30%. From the single apartment renter to a local business and even to a factory, all will benefit.

Hydro bills, especially at this time of year, are very pricey. However, with the right changes to our province’s hydro provider, they sure don’t have to be!

MPP Paul Miller and Hamilton Round Table for Poverty Reduction: Move Bill 6 forward right now

Paul Miller — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 16:23:00 -0500

MPP Miller to Liberal finance minister: Reducing pension funding requirements will hurt pensioners and their families

Paul Miller — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 09:13:00 -0500

QUEEN’S PARK – With an open letter to Liberal Finance Minister Charles Sousa, Hamilton East-Stoney Creek NDP MPP and Pensions critic Paul Miller is demanding the Liberal government scrap its latest pension scheme – one that will put pensions at risk by cutting funding requirements.

The Wynne Liberals are changing the law so that pension plans can be allowed to dwindle to 85 per cent solvency, instead of 100 per cent. That means when a company goes out of business, the pensions owed to current and former employees won’t be fully paid out.

“Dropping pension solvency funding targets means workers will have even less certainty that their pensions will be there when they retire.” said Miller. “Reducing the solvency funding target by 15% erodes this important pension protection and virtually ensures tragedies like Nortel, US Steel and Sears will be even more painful in the future.”

Miller said that a stroke of the premier’s pen at Queen’s Park could spell long-term consequences for those that have worked to earn those pensions.

“For the sake of pensioners, do not reduce pension solvency funding requirements. Doing so would be a slap in the face to pensioners who have worked their whole life for their pension and deserve to receive the benefits they were promised.” said Miller. “Why is this government bent on moving our pension legislation in the wrong direction, putting retirees at risk?”

Miller’s letter calls on the Liberal Finance Minister to remove Schedule 33 from Bill 177, and give pensioners a say in the future of their plans. Miller said any changes to pension requirements should be brought forward as a separate piece of legislation – not buried in the omnibus budget bill.

“The Liberal government is forcing changes through the legislation that will hurt pensioners and their families — this is simply wrong. It’s time for Kathleen Wynne and her Minister of Finance to do the right thing and give pensioners a say in any legislation that impacts their future.”

Separating the pensions section from the budget bill would also allow for further debate on expansion of the Pension Benefits Guarantee Fund (PBGF). The PBGF was a backup fund developed to support Ontario pensioners who were victim of failing pension plans. If an applicable pension plan was terminated, the PBGF would guarantee a pensioner up to $1,000 a month in coverage – and Miller said the government’s weak expansion to merely $1,500 per month is not enough to support pensioners abandoned by failed pension plans.

MPP Paul Miller calls on Wynne government to take 2017 Hunger Report seriously

Paul Miller — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 15:04:00 -0500

Poverty report shows little progress: Paul Miller

Paul Miller — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 12:53:00 -0500

QUEEN’S PARK – Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MPP and NDP Poverty Reduction critic Paul Miller responded Tuesday to the annual report card released by Ontario Campaign 2000, saying the lack of progress on poverty reduction means Ontario children are still suffering.

“It seems that every year when this report card gets released, the same problems are still happening. Too many children in Ontario are still suffering from poverty and homelessness,” said Miller. “This is simply unacceptable. Even one child experiencing the effects of poverty – hunger, food insecurity, homelessness – is too many. Ontario needs a premier with a complete plan to begin to address this problem in its entirety.”

Miller said the extensive report paints a broad picture of poverty – and discuss solutions.

“This report has done a good job painting a picture of what this province needs to have in place to address the problems faced by the more than 475,000 Ontario children living in poverty,” said Miller. “Affordable childcare, a $15 an hour minimum wage, increases to social assistance rates, and more health benefits are among many of the important recommendations that were talked about during the report’s official release earlier today, and it’s critical that the province acts on those recommendations – and more.”

Miller also talked about the need for the passing of Bill 6 which falls in line with the report’s recommendation to improve social assistance rates. Bill 6, also known as the Ministry of Community and Social Services Amendment Act would create an evidence-based Social Assistance Research Commission which would make recommendations on what social assistance rates should be in each region of the province on an annual basis.

“We need the Wynne Liberals to start taking the issue of poverty reduction seriously,” said Miller. “They’ve stalled this poverty-reduction bill at the committee stage – and getting it back into debate is an important step towards embracing the recommendations of Ontario Campaign 2000’s report card.”

Government must stand up for Sears Pensioners and College Faculty

Paul Miller — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 11:11:00 -0500

(Paul at a rally with the Local 1005 to demonstrate support for Sears Pensioners)

Hello friends and neighbours,

October has been an eventful month. Over the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to get to know you all that much better at many events throughout our riding. Among the events I had the chance to participate in, was a rally with Local 1005 to show support for Sears employees. This is an important issue. Our province and country continue to allow pensioners and their families to suffer as wealthy millionaires walk away from pension failure scot-free.

The Ontario Government must boost the Pension Benefit Guarantee Fund so that all pensioners across Ontario are covered up to at least $2500 a month in the event that their pension plans go ‘belly up’. Kathleen Wynne also needs to put pressure on the Federal Liberals in Ottawa to make changes to the Companies’ Creditor Arrangement Act as well as Bankruptcy and Insolvency laws so that pensioners are paid in the order they deserve to be. This would be in line with my friend NDP MP Scott Duvall’s Private Member’s Bill, to be released this fall.

Along with the ever intensifying Sears problem, over the past few weeks our province has also borne witness to a heated labour dispute across Ontario college campuses. Many of you reading this may have been affected or know someone who has. There are certainly staff and students affected at Mohawk College’s Stoney Creek Campus.

For someone just tuning in to see this strike unfold, they might assume that the tension between college faculty and the colleges have only just arisen. However, these issues have been a problem for years.

Faculty and students have both been feeling the pinch. In the lead up to this strike, class sizes were growing out of control. As well, over 75% of professors teaching in the college system are part-time, and these professors are underpaid and over-worked. To top it off, resources are not adequate. How can students be getting the optimal learning experience learning in these conditions?

Both faculty and students want a fair deal to be hashed out so that they can get back to the classroom as soon as possible. I, along with my staff, have talked with many of you affected and I want to assure you that both groups have my full support.

If there is one politician to point a finger at for this strike, I know just who it should be. To give you a hint, her last name is Wynne and she is currently premier of Ontario (at least for now). The problem is that Ontario continues to have is a chronically underfunded college system. This has become the norm over the 15 years that the Liberals have been in power.

If our province is really going to see change, it is up to this Ontario government to commit the necessary funding to make it happen. We need a reasonable, fair, and equitable solution.

Paul Miller

MPP Hamilton East-Stoney Creek

Foster care system needs attention: NDP Miller

Paul Miller — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 10:42:00 -0400

QUEEN’S PARK – Paul Miller, the NDP’s critic for Poverty Reduction and the MPP for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, delivered a statement in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Wednesday calling for changes to Ontario’s foster care system.

“The foster care system in Hamilton, and Ontario needs an upgrade,” said Miller, pointing to the experience of the Child Welfare Political Action Committee (PAC) – a group made up of individuals who have been in foster care. Their experience, and their advocacy, highlight the need for changes to foster care in the province.

“Last week I met members of the Child Welfare PAC—this group is made up of former foster care children,” said Miller. “We had a good talk and I learned that most foster children aging out of care start off disadvantaged. Many experience low academic achievement, poverty, exposure to the criminal justice system, as well as poor health.”

Miller called on the Wynne Liberals to commit to tackling the challenges in foster care.

“Ontario’s foster care system doesn’t have the resources to guarantee that these children start on the right track,” said Miller. “There have been issues of overcrowding and underfunding for years. I have found that the Liberals have not provided the necessary funds or legislation to ensure that foster homes are all they can be for children. This government needs to commit more for Foster Kids.”

“The future of these children is at stake,” concluded Miller.

NDP MPP Paul Miller again pushes Wynne Liberals on GTHA hospital overcrowding

Paul Miller — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 15:37:00 -0400

QUEEN’S PARK—Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area NDP MPPs Paul Miller (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) and Peter Tabuns (Toronto Danforth) again pushed the Wynne Liberals to stop turning its back on GTHA families who are forced to suffer through long ER wait times only to be treated on stretchers in hallways. The NDP MPPs raised the issue directly with the Minister of Health during a committee meeting on Tuesday.

“In Hamilton, patients are left languishing in waiting rooms for hours when they visit the ER only to then be put on a stretcher in the hallway,” said Miller. “Hamilton families deserve a bed when they visit a hospital, not a stretcher in the hall, but this is what health care has become under Wynne. Hospital cuts have had a devastating impact in our region with 121 unfunded overflow beds needed at Hamilton Health Sciences on Oct. 10 alone—a new record.”

Miller’s questions are the latest in a series of concerns New Democrats have brought forward about hospital overcrowding in Hamilton and across Ontario. Yesterday, Hamilton Mountain NDP MPP Monique Taylor spoke about Jim Sanford, a Hamiltonian who was left lying on an ambulance stretcher inside a packed ER at Juravinski Hospital for hours. Hamilton Health Sciences has not been below 100 per cent occupancy for 14 months on some wards and St. Joseph’s Healthcare had 26 per cent more patients than medical beds in August of this year.

Miller stated that overcrowding impacts critical hospital operations like surgeries.

“In our community, 25 surgeries were cancelled or postponed in the past month because there were not enough beds—16 at St. Joseph’s and at least nine at Hamilton Health Sciences,” said Miller. “Now, families must wait and worry as they try to reschedule.”

“It simply shouldn’t be this way,” added Tabuns. “But under Wynne, there is an overcrowding crisis throughout the GTHA with hospitals operating well above the 85 per cent that is considered safe—patients and hospital employees are paying the price for the Liberals underfunding of our hospitals."

The questions from Tabuns and Miller in a committee of the legislature came on the same day as NDP Leader Andrea Horwath revealed internal hospital documents showing that a shocking 4,352 patients were treated in a hospital hallway last year at just one hospital, Brampton Civic.

"We have to stop the damage Wynne is doing to our healthcare system," said Tabuns. "And we know Patrick Brown isn’t the answer. He stood by the last Conservative government as it cut 6,000 nurses and more than 7,000 hospital beds."

Andrea Horwath and the NDP are determined to make sure GTHA families can count on hospital care – which is why Horwath has committed to prioritize hospital funding that, at a minimum, keeps up with inflation, population growth and the unique needs of each community. The NDP has called for a moratorium on frontline staff layoffs, and Horwath has laid out a plan to introduce Pharmacare -- a drug plan that covers everyone, regardless of age or job status. With one in four Ontarians not taking their prescriptions because they can't afford them, pharmacare would relieve pressure on emergency rooms and hospitals.

- 30 -

Media contact: Steve Piazza, 416-325-5105

Speaking to Members of the Canadian Federation of Pensioners

Paul Miller — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 14:07:00 -0400

There are many problems facing pensioners in our province at the moment. The Wynne government has the capacity to address all of these issues. However, her government continues to drop the ball with many pension issues regarding plans from Sears to Nortel.

It is so very important that we speak out about this to get Kathleen Wynne to take action!

Wynne government disappoints families counting on basic income: MPP Paul Miller

Paul Miller — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 14:54:00 -0400

SPEAKING UP FOR SEARS PENSIONERS

Paul Miller — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 13:29:00 -0400

QUEEN’S PARK – During question period today, Ontario NDP Pension critic and Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MPP Paul Miller demanded that the Wynne government finally stand up for Sears workers facing the loss of their pensions.

“So far, 59 locations have been closed and more than 1,200 employees have been affected,” said Miller. “The saga continues as we learn that Sears Canada is filing a petition to terminate their pension plan. And now, Sears just announced on Saturday that they will be closing another 10 stores- including one in Hamilton.”

Earlier this year, Sears Canada applied for bankruptcy and was granted approval to perform liquidation sales. Last month, Sears filed a petition to terminate its vastly underfunded pension plan, leaving thousands at risk of losing their pensions. New Democrats passed a motion in the legislature calling for changes to bankruptcy legislation and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) to ensure pensioners are listed as preferred creditors and benefits owed to them are prioritized when a company files for bankruptcy. New Democrats are also calling for any liquidation sales to be used to fund Sears’ employees’ pensions first, not executive bonuses.

“The lack of pension protection in this province is unacceptable,” said Miller.

“Will the premier step up—will she put pressure on the federal government to make changes to the Bankruptcy, Insolvency and CCAA so that hard working current and former employees are given priority to get paid the pensions they’re owed?” asked Miller.

MPP Paul Miller speaks to get Bill 6 moving

Paul Miller — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 16:49:00 -0400

QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Poverty Reduction critic Paul Miller says Kathleen Wynne’s Liberal government has been trying to block efforts to pass legislation he introduced over a year ago that would create a Social Assistance Research Commission.

“This bill is going to create an evidence based research commission that would make recommendations to our government on what Ontario’s social assistance rates should be year to year and in each region. This is an effective way to deal with poverty,” said Miller.

The commission, once established, would look at how regional differences impact the cost of living and social assistance needs, as well as looking at other aspects of social assistance programs and delivery. The commission would include members knowledgeable about the economic and financial challenges faced by individuals living with disabilities, and by indigenous individuals.

“The Liberals have had plenty of opportunity to pass [Bill 6]. They are letting the bill sit, preventing it from going before committee, hoping that it is going to wither and die,” said Miller.

The bill was referred to committee on September 29, 2016, after passing second reading with support from all parties. Since then, the Liberals have used their majority position in committee to prevent the bill from moving forwards.

Miller urged Premier Wynne to stop blocking the bill.

“I stand in the House today not with a question, but a request of the Government,” said Miller. “Don’t let impoverished Ontarians continue to suffer. Do the right thing and bring Bill 6 forward!”