Larry Miller (Canadian politician)

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.

Larry Miller
Miller at the Olympic Torch ceremony in Owen Sound
Member of Parliament
for Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound
In office
June 28, 2004 – September 11, 2019
Preceded byOvid Jackson
Succeeded byAlex Ruff
Chair of the Standing Committee on
Agriculture
In office
3 February 2009 – 24 September 2012
MinisterGerry Ritz
Preceded byJames Bezan
Succeeded byMerv Tweed
Personal details
Born (1956-07-21) 21 July 1956 (age 68)
Wiarton, Ontario, Canada
Political partyConservative
SpouseDarlene Miller
Residence(s)Georgian Bluffs, Ontario
ProfessionBeef farmer[1]

Early life and career

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Miller was born in Wiarton, Ontario on 21 July 1956.[2] 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.[2] He also owns a beef-farming operation.

Federal politics

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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.[3]

In the 2015 election, he was reelected by almost 5,000 votes.[4]

Miller did not seek re-election in the 2019 federal election and retired from politics.[5]

Bill C-19 controversy

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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.[6][7]

Citizenship ceremony controversy

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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..."[8] 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.[9]

Personal life

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Miller is married with three children and three grandchildren.[1]

Electoral record

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2015 Canadian federal election: Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Larry Miller 26,297 46.68 -9.62 $121,344.93
Liberal Kimberley Love 21,879 38.84 +22.77 $77,135.87
New Democratic David McLaren 6,270 11.13 -6.51 $28,809.26
Green Chris Albinati 1,887 3.35 -6.64 $4,346.25
Total valid votes/expense limit 56,333 100.00   $218,310.52
Total rejected ballots 212 0.37
Turnout 56,545 68.91
Eligible voters 82,056
Conservative hold Swing -16.20
Source: Elections Canada[10][11]
2011 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Larry Miller 28,744 56.30 +8.64
New Democratic Karen Gventer 9,008 17.64 +8.01
Liberal Kimberley Love 8,203 16.07 +1.77
Green Emma Jane Hogbin 5,099 9.99 -17.18
Total valid votes 51,054 100.00
Total rejected ballots 227 0.44 +0.02
Turnout 51,281 65.04 +3.68
Eligible voters 78,848
2008 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Larry Miller 22,975 47.66 -0.52 $83,330
Green Dick Hibma 13,095 27.17 +14.26 $63,875
Liberal Thomas Noble 6,892 14.30 -13.26 $39,399
New Democratic Jill McIllwraith 4,640 9.63 -1.71 $9,434
Christian Heritage Joel Kidd 599 1.24 * $1,377
Total valid votes/expense limit 48,201 100.00 $84,478
Total rejected ballots 204 0.42
Turnout 48,405 61.36
2006 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Larry Miller 25,133 48.18 +3.2 $72,117
Liberal Verona Jackson 14,378 27.56 -8.2 $52,377
Green Shane Jolley 6,735 12.91 +8.7 $17,349
New Democratic Jill McIllwraith 5,918 11.34 -1.7 $11,210
Total valid votes/expense limit 52,164 100.00
2004 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Larry Miller 22,411 45.0 -6.0
Liberal Ovid Jackson 17,824 35.8 -8.4
New Democratic Sebastian Ostertag 6,516 13.1 +8.2
Green Alex Drossos 2,076 4.2
Christian Heritage Steven J. Taylor 982 2.0
Total valid votes 49,809 100.0

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

References

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  1. ^ a b "About Larry". LarryMiller.ca. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Parliamentarian File: Larry Miller". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  3. ^ Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society News and Events "NSLPS - Calendar of Trips and Programs". Archived from the original on 23 April 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2008.
  4. ^ Maloney, Ryan (20 October 2015). "6 Controversial Tory Incumbents Who Lost (And 2 Who Didn't)". Huffington Post Canada. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Updated: Miller announces farewell from federal politics".
  6. ^ Nonato, Sheila Dabu. "Conservatives limit debate on long-gun registry". Postmedia News. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  7. ^ "Larry Miller, Conservative MP, Compares Liberal Support For Long-Gun Registry To Hitler's Policies". The Huffington Post. 7 February 2011.
  8. ^ "Who are "most Canadians"?".
  9. ^ O'Malley, Kady (24 March 2015). "Larry Miller, Conservative MP, recants inflammatory niqab-ban comment". CBC News. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  10. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, 30 September 2015
  11. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
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