MPP Norm Miller (Left) and Kieran meeting with representatives from Intact Insurance
For my spring placement, I have the pleasure of working with longtime MPP Norm Miller, the Member for Parry Sound-Muskoka and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. MPP Miller is a veteran of the Legislature having served as the representative of his riding since 2001, making him one of the longest serving MPPs currently in the House. MPP Miller’s father Frank was also a long serving Member of the House having represented the former riding of Muskoka for 16 years from 1971-1987, including a brief stint as Ontario’s 19th Premier.
MPP Miller is a big supporter of OLIP having had numerous interns over the years. I immediately felt welcomed into the office by him along with MPP Miller’s Executive Assistant Lesley Daw and Legislative Assistant Sam Routley. While the House was still sitting in the first few weeks of my placement, I was assigned a variety of tasks including research on a Private Member’s Bill, assisting with speech writing for debate, and correspondence to various Ministries. I was also given the opportunity to join MPP Miller in a variety of interesting stakeholder meetings to take notes and to participate in discussion.
Given the current situation in Ontario with COVID-19, my placement is continuing from a distance. While things are quieter than the typical day at Queen’s Park, I have still been keeping busy with different tasks such as assisting to arrange conference calls with local businesses impacted by COVID-19. I have also been joining in and taking notes on various webinars and teleconferences to ensure that MPP Miller has the most up-to-date information coming from stakeholders and constituents about how the pandemic has affected them. I am continuing to stay in contact with the office through email and video conferences, and I am still enjoying this chance to be a part of the office at such an unprecedented time!
A big thank you to MPP Miller, Lesley, Sam and MPP Miller’s Constituency Assistants, Jess, Jessie, Christine, and Karen for welcoming me on to the team. I am holding out hope that life will return to a semblance of normal before my placement concludes at the end of June, and that I will have the opportunity to go visit the beautiful riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka with MPP Miller and his staff!