Hamilton’s Miller sent to the back benches

Hamilton New Democrat Paul Miller has been sent to the back bench at the Ontario legislature after getting into a dispute with party leader Andrea Horwath.

Miller was sitting in the back row of the NDP caucus Monday instead of his usual seat closer to Horwath, who wasn’t in the legislature. Miller is one of the most boisterous hecklers at Queen’s Park, and apparently he didn’t like Horwath’s request last week that he tone it down. NDP House Leader Gilles Bisson insists Miller isn’t being punished and says all seats in the legislature are good seats: First of all, Paul’s a a very valuable member of our team. He contributes well to this caucus.  We have a lot of respect for him.  The reason he was moved is a very simple one; he heckles a lot.  But it’s getting to be a bit of a problem when the leader and others are trying to do questions and Paul is heckling in that way. But I’ve got to say. Paul’s a good guy, strong guy at caucus, we support him.”