David Miller As A Councillor As A Mayor Police Transit

Miller is well known as a social activist and for being left-wing. He supports the New Democratic Party and has a picture of Tommy Douglas upon the wall of his office. As a federal NDP candidate, he lost a parliementary election in Parkdale-High Park in 1993, and as an Ontario NDP candidate, he narrowly lost a provincial by-election in York South-Weston in 1996.

In the November 2000 issue of Toronto Life magazine, he was given an A+ in a list of Toronto city councillors, described as "the best of the bunch, hands down." Although a relative unknown in Toronto until his candidacy for mayor, Miller led the push to expose Toronto's MFP computer leasing scandal.

In the 2003 mayoral election, Miller's primary distinguishing campaign promise was to block a proposal to build a bridge to the Toronto City Centre AirportThe Toronto City Centre Airport in Toronto, Ontario is a regional airport located on the northwestern portion of Centre Island, one of the Toronto Islands. The airport is owned and operated by the Toronto Port Authority, and jointly governed by the TPA, t. He felt that the bridge was just one symptom of a political culture at City Hall which put the interests of developers ahead of the public interest, and many observers feel that it was this theme which gave his campaign the boost he needed to win.

1 As a councillor

Miller was first elected to the then Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto council in 19941994 is a common year starting on Saturday, and was designated the International year of the Family''. Events January events January 1 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect January 6 Nancy Kerrigan is clubbed on the right leg by an. In 19971997 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Reef''. Events January January 3 NBC's Today Show Bryant Gumbel signs off for the last time January 8 Mister Rogers receives a star on t he was elected to the new City of Toronto council. In 2000This page is about the year 2000. See 2000 AD for the UK comic book, Number 2000 for other uses. 2000 is a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar), and also the International Year for a Culture of Peace''. Events Y2K passes without the seri he was re-elected, representing Ward 13 Parkdale-High Park.

Major city committees and agencies he served on included the Administration Committee, the Humber York Community Council, the Ethics Steering Committee, the Immigration and Refugee Issues Working Group, Labour Relations Advisory Panel, the Oak Ridges MoraineThe Oak Ridges Moraine is a geographic area in southern Ontario, Canada stretching from Milton to Rice Lake, near Peterborough. The Oak Ridges Moraine is one of the most significant landforms in southern Ontario. The moraine gets its name from its rolling Steering Committee, and the Toronto Transit CommissionThe Toronto Transit Commission or TTC is a public transportation authority that operates buses, streetcars, and subway lines in Toronto, Ontario. At one time it operated trolley buses, but it ceased those operations in 1993. The TTC operates one of the mo.

2 As a mayor

Miller successfully led council to reverse its prior decision to endorse the Toronto City Centre Airport bridge. The vote, held on November 11, 2003, was 28-12 in favour of withdrawing Council's support for the bridge. The decision is supported by the Canadian federal government, but industry and the Toronto Port Authority are considering lawsuits against the city.

Mayor Miller portrays himself as a social activist willing to stand up to developers, but some Toronto activists dispute this. The militant Ontario Coalition Against PovertyThe Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) is a group of anti-poverty activists in Ontario that uses direct action to fight for the rights of the poor and homeless. Whereas more "liberal" anti-poverty groups use charity and advocate reform while speakin in particular has condemned him for continuing a policy of launching police "sweeps" against the homeless and squatters. They allege that "The whole agenda of building a city that pushes out the poor and focuses on upscale residential and commercial development has not changed. All that has happened is that a new face has been put on the process to try and hide its ugliness." [1]

2.1 Police

Within months of assuming office, David Miller became heavily involved in the polarized issue of Toronto's police budget. With tight city budgets, a steadily decreasing overall crime rate (though a recent spike in homicides), and a more left leaning city council wanting money diverted to crime prevention, Miller and a sizable portion of other councillers wanted the police budget curtailed. Heated arguments over differences in opinions formed between left and right wing councillers and between Miller and Police Chief Julian FantinoJulian Fantino (born 1942) has been Toronto's Chief of Police since 2000. He was previously Chief of Police in London, Ontario from 1991 to 1998 and Chief of Police in York Region outside of Toronto from 1998 until 2000. Previous to his London appointment.

The police department was eventually given a budget increase, though much smaller that originally requested. The relationship between Miller and Fantino remains cool at best, especially after a comment by Miller to the visiting Lord Mayor of London amidst a serious police corruption scandal, in which 14 officers were charged. "Is your police force in jail?" asked Miller. "Mine is."

Miller explained later that the comment was made out of embarrassment of the Toronto city media, questioning him on the police's charges at a press conference about the guest visit. "It was an embarrassing moment and you are in the middle of a press conference about good news and it gets diverted to the matter about the police."

Appearing that night on his CP24 cable news program The Chief, Fantino commented "I feel like someone has driven a stake through my heart."

On the morning of Friday, April 30, Miller apologised to Fantino.

Despite extensive discussion in media outlets such as the Toronto Sun and CFRB radio the controversy around it has not seemed to significantly hurt Miller. A public opinion poll taken shortly after the comment showning the mayor's approval rating at over 80%.

Miller's early popular support and poll numbers remained very high, as he maintained a reputation as a politician who kept his promises.

2.2 Transit

Miller helped push for the approval of a plan for a streetcar right-of-way on St. Clair Ave.

Miller, David Miller, David Miller, David

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