Saul Miller
Encyclopedia
Saul Alec Miller was a politician
in Manitoba, Canada
. He was a New Democratic
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1966 to 1981, and held a number of high-profile cabinet
portfolios in the government of Edward Schreyer
.
Miller was raised in a Jewish family in north-end Winnipeg. He spent time in the armed services and worked for a number of years at a collection agency in eastern Canada. He returned to Winnipeg in the 1940s, and worked in a bookstore owned by his family. In the early 1950s, Miller started a small business called Acme Metal Products. He was also involved in B'nai Brith and the Royal Canadian Legion
.
Miller served as a trustee on the Seven Oaks School Board from 1953 to 1958, as an alderman on the West Kildonan city council from 1959 to 1964, and as Mayor of West Kildonan from 1964 to 1966. He was first elected to the provincial legislature in the 1966 election
, winning an easy victory in the north-end Winnipeg riding of Seven Oaks.
Miller had long been a personal friend of fellow MLA Saul Cherniack
, and soon established himself as one of Cherniack's closest political allies. In 1968-69, Cherniack and Miller played a significant role in convincing federal Member of Parliament
Edward Schreyer
to replace Russell Paulley
as leader of the provincial NDP. Both would later become among Schreyer's most trusted confidants.
Miller was easily re-elected in the provincial election of 1969
, in which the NDP under Schreyer formed government for the first time. On July 15, 1969, he was named Minister of Youth and Education.
As the former mayor of a suburban community, Miller was one of the few prominent New Democrats in Manitoba to oppose the party's call for a united City of Winnipeg at their 1968 policy convention. He later acquiesced to the plan, and assisted Cherniack in public consultations on the subject throughout 1970.
After a cabinet shuffle on September 9, 1971, Miller was named Minister of Colleges and University Affairs. In the same year, he supported a controversial government initiative to provide provincial funding to denominational schools. This measure was opposed by many on both the government side and the opposition. When the legislation was defeated in a free vote, Miller and Schreyer made arrangements for specific denominational schools to receive provincial money by working in conjunction with the public system.
Miller was re-elected in the provincial election of 1973
, although by a narrower margin than previously; local opposition to amalgamation was undoubtedly a factor. On August 29, 1973, he was named Minister of Urban Affairs. Miller served as Minister of Health and Social Development from January 28 to December 23, 1974, but was transferred back to Urban Affairs thereafter. He also served as Minister responsible for the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation from January 28, 1974 to September 22, 1976.
While retaining the Urban Affairs portfolio, Miller was also promoted to the Ministry of Finance on September 22, 1976. In this capacity, he passed legislation allowing for the province to introduce its own treasury banks. This policy was never enacted, however, due in part to Miller's concerns that it would label the NDP government as radically socialist.
The NDP were defeated in the provincial election of 1977
, and Miller was personally re-elected over Progressive Conservative
candidate Carl Zawatsky by only 820 votes. In 1979, he was one of only three MLAs to support Saul Cherniack for interim party leader after Schreyer's resignation. He did not play a major role in the legislature after this time, and did not seek re-election in 1981.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Manitoba, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He was a New Democratic
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
from 1966 to 1981, and held a number of high-profile cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
portfolios in the government of Edward Schreyer
Edward Schreyer
Edward Richard Schreyer , commonly known as Ed Schreyer, is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 22nd since Canadian Confederation....
.
Miller was raised in a Jewish family in north-end Winnipeg. He spent time in the armed services and worked for a number of years at a collection agency in eastern Canada. He returned to Winnipeg in the 1940s, and worked in a bookstore owned by his family. In the early 1950s, Miller started a small business called Acme Metal Products. He was also involved in B'nai Brith and the Royal Canadian Legion
Royal Canadian Legion
The Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canadian ex-service organization founded in 1925, with more than 400,000 members worldwide. Membership includes people who have served as current and former military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial and municipal police, direct relatives of...
.
Miller served as a trustee on the Seven Oaks School Board from 1953 to 1958, as an alderman on the West Kildonan city council from 1959 to 1964, and as Mayor of West Kildonan from 1964 to 1966. He was first elected to the provincial legislature in the 1966 election
Manitoba general election, 1966
The Manitoba general election held on June 23, 1966, was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a third consecutive majority win for the Progressive Conservative Party led by Dufferin Roblin...
, winning an easy victory in the north-end Winnipeg riding of Seven Oaks.
Miller had long been a personal friend of fellow MLA Saul Cherniack
Saul Cherniack
Saul Mark Cherniack, PC, CM, OM, QC is a Canadian lawyer and politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1962 to 1981, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Edward Schreyer. He is also a member of the Privy Council, the Order of Canada and the Order...
, and soon established himself as one of Cherniack's closest political allies. In 1968-69, Cherniack and Miller played a significant role in convincing federal Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Edward Schreyer
Edward Schreyer
Edward Richard Schreyer , commonly known as Ed Schreyer, is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 22nd since Canadian Confederation....
to replace Russell Paulley
Russell Paulley
Andrew Russell Paulley was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as leader of the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation from 1959 to 1961, and its successor, the New Democratic Party of Manitoba, from 1961 to 1969.Paulley was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba...
as leader of the provincial NDP. Both would later become among Schreyer's most trusted confidants.
Miller was easily re-elected in the provincial election of 1969
Manitoba general election, 1969
The Manitoba General Election of June 25, 1969 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was a watershed moment in the province's political history. The social-democratic New Democratic Party emerged for the first time as the largest party in...
, in which the NDP under Schreyer formed government for the first time. On July 15, 1969, he was named Minister of Youth and Education.
As the former mayor of a suburban community, Miller was one of the few prominent New Democrats in Manitoba to oppose the party's call for a united City of Winnipeg at their 1968 policy convention. He later acquiesced to the plan, and assisted Cherniack in public consultations on the subject throughout 1970.
After a cabinet shuffle on September 9, 1971, Miller was named Minister of Colleges and University Affairs. In the same year, he supported a controversial government initiative to provide provincial funding to denominational schools. This measure was opposed by many on both the government side and the opposition. When the legislation was defeated in a free vote, Miller and Schreyer made arrangements for specific denominational schools to receive provincial money by working in conjunction with the public system.
Miller was re-elected in the provincial election of 1973
Manitoba general election, 1973
The Manitoba General Election of June 28, 1973 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the social-democratic New Democratic Party, which took 31 of 57 seats...
, although by a narrower margin than previously; local opposition to amalgamation was undoubtedly a factor. On August 29, 1973, he was named Minister of Urban Affairs. Miller served as Minister of Health and Social Development from January 28 to December 23, 1974, but was transferred back to Urban Affairs thereafter. He also served as Minister responsible for the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation from January 28, 1974 to September 22, 1976.
While retaining the Urban Affairs portfolio, Miller was also promoted to the Ministry of Finance on September 22, 1976. In this capacity, he passed legislation allowing for the province to introduce its own treasury banks. This policy was never enacted, however, due in part to Miller's concerns that it would label the NDP government as radically socialist.
The NDP were defeated in the provincial election of 1977
Manitoba general election, 1977
The Manitoba general election of October 11, 1977 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which took 33 seats out of 57...
, and Miller was personally re-elected over Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
candidate Carl Zawatsky by only 820 votes. In 1979, he was one of only three MLAs to support Saul Cherniack for interim party leader after Schreyer's resignation. He did not play a major role in the legislature after this time, and did not seek re-election in 1981.