Larry Miller (Canadian politician) explained

Larry Miller
Term Start:June 28, 2004
Term End:September 11, 2019
Predecessor:Ovid Jackson
Birth Date:21 July 1956
Birth Place:Wiarton, Ontario, Canada
Successor:Alex Ruff
Profession:Beef farmer
Party:Conservative
Residence:Georgian Bluffs, Ontario
Parliament:Canadian
Riding:Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound
Office3:Chair of the Standing Committee on
Agriculture
Minister3:Gerry Ritz
Term Start3:3 February 2009
Term End3:24 September 2012
Predecessor3:James Bezan
Successor3:Merv Tweed
Spouse:Darlene Miller

Larry Miller (born 21 July 1956) is a Canadian politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound from 2004 to 2019 as a member of the Conservative Party.

Early life and career

Miller was born in Wiarton, Ontario on 21 July 1956.[1] Before entering federal politics, he was a councillor in Keppel Township, Ontario from 1991 to 1993. He progressed to Deputy Reeve in 1994, and in 1996 became the Reeve of Keppel Township. He was briefly a councillor in Grey County between 2000 and 2001, and between 2000 and 2004 he was mayor of Georgian Bluffs.[1] He also owns a beef-farming operation.

Federal politics

Miller won the Conservative Party nomination for Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound in 2004, and defeated three-term Liberal MP Ovid Jackson by almost 5,000 votes in that year's federal election.

With many historic Georgian Bay lighthouses in his riding, Miller sponsored the bill that became the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act in the Commons in January 2008.[2]

In the 2015 election, he was reelected by almost 5,000 votes.[3]

Miller did not seek re-election in the 2019 federal election and retired from politics.[4]

Bill C-19 controversy

On 7 February 2012, during a Parliamentary Debate about Bill C-19, Miller stirred controversy after comparing the long-gun registry to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Regime quoting former Liberal Minister Allan Rock: "I came to Ottawa last year with the firm belief that the only people in Canada who should have firearms are police officers and the military." Miller added afterwards: "Sound familiar? Adolf Hitler. 1939". Later, he quoted former Liberal Senator Sharon Carstairs, who had said "the registering of hunting rifles is the first step in the social re-engineering of Canadians," to which Miller added "that is what Adolf Hitler tried to do in the 1930s". Miller later retracted his statements.[5] [6]

Citizenship ceremony controversy

On 16 March 2015, while appearing on a call-in show on CFOS Radio, Miller commented on the issue of Zunera Ishaq wishing to wear a niqab at her citizenship ceremony. Miller said, "if you don't like that or don't want to do that, stay the hell where you came from, is the way, and I think most Canadians feel the same... I'm so sick and tired of, of people wanting to come here because they know it's a good country and then they want to change things before they even really officially become a Canadian, so, I have no sympathy for her..."[7] The following day, Miller issued a statement apologizing for part of his comments, but maintained his opinion that one should uncover their face when taking the citizenship oath.[8]

Personal life

Miller is married with three children and three grandchildren.[9]

Electoral record

Note: Conservative vote is compared to the total of the Canadian Alliance vote and Progressive Conservative vote in 2000 election.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Parliamentarian File: Larry Miller. 23 May 2009. Parliament of Canada.
  2. Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society News and Events Web site: NSLPS - Calendar of Trips and Programs . 2008-03-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080423161800/http://www.nslps.com/trip_and_program_calendar.asp . 2008-04-23 .
  3. Web site: 6 Controversial Tory Incumbents Who Lost (And 2 Who Didn't). Huffington Post Canada. 20 October 2015. 21 October 2015. Maloney, Ryan.
  4. Web site: Updated: Miller announces farewell from federal politics .
  5. Web site: Nonato, Sheila Dabu. Conservatives limit debate on long-gun registry . 8 February 2012. Postmedia News.
  6. Web site: Larry Miller, Conservative MP, Compares Liberal Support For Long-Gun Registry To Hitler's Policies. The Huffington Post. 7 February 2011.
  7. Web site: Who are "most Canadians"?.
  8. Web site: Larry Miller, Conservative MP, recants inflammatory niqab-ban comment . . 24 March 2015 . 23 September 2015 . O'Malley, Kady.
  9. Web site: About Larry. 19 August 2014. LarryMiller.ca. https://web.archive.org/web/20181023110949/http://www.larrymiller.ca/about/. 23 October 2018. dead.