NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has ejected veteran New Democratic MPP Paul Miller from caucuses less than three months before the next election.
But Miller told the Star he has been turfed based on “evidence fabricated by the party.”
“I’ve had my differences with Andrea over the years and I wouldn’t leave voluntarily so they kicked me out. I was caught completely off-guard,” the Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MPP said Thursday.
“They’ve made a really big mistake here. I’ve talked to lawyers. I can’t disclose the finer points but whatever they think they have is bogus. I’m in litigation now,” he said.
Miller, 71, appeared to suggest the NDP based on its “suspicious and foolish” decision on questionable social media posts.
“You can read between the lines, but I have never been on Facebook. I’m a little bit technologically challenged. I still like rotary phones. My staff posts on my Facebook page when I’m at an event at the legion or something like that. I don’t know how to use Facebook.”
The New Democrats strongly disputed his assertion that evidence was manufactured.
“Mr. Miller’s suggestion that the concerning content was fabricated or false is absurd,” said Lucy Watson, the Ontario NDP provincial director.
Horwath, who has long sparred with Miller even though they represent neighboring Hamilton ridings, made the public expulsion Thursday afternoon, one day after he was told.
“Our party has concluded the vetting process for Paul Miller, and determined he will not be permitted to run as a candidate for the Ontario NDP in the 2022 election,” she said.
“I’ve been informed of the new information uncovered during that vetting process, and find it to be clearly unacceptable. Therefore I have removed Mr. Miller from the Ontario NDP caucus.”
While Horwath’s terse statement did not specify why he was defenestrated, sources confirmed there was no criminal behavior and it is not a #MeToo situation.
Nor does his removal have anything to do with previous allegations of bullying, discrimination and abuse of office resources by a former member of his constituency office staff, Todd White, who filed a human rights complaint and some union grievances in 2018.
White’s complaint and grievances have since been settled.
Miller emphasized he would “be on the ballot” on June 2.
Asked if he would run as an Independent or be willing to talk about joining the Liberals, Progressive Conservatives or Greens, he said: “I am always open for a good conversation.”
Six weeks ago, Miller indicated to the Hamilton Spectator’s Scott Radley that something was amiss with his vetting.
“Usually with an incumbent they kind of rubber-stamp it,” he said in February.
“In our party, the tradition has never been to challenge an incumbent. But in this case there’s something going on and I’m not sure. You’d have to talk to the leader about it.”
Thursday’s move stunned New Democratic MPPs, who were only told about Miller’s ejection five minutes before Horwath’s 3:22 pm press release.
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