Peter Milliken

Milliken was born in Kingston, Ontario, the eldest of seven children to a physician father,{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2139409&p=1|title=National Post|website=nationalpost.com}} and is a descendant of United Empire Loyalists who left the new United States of America after the American Revolution. He is the cousin of John Matheson, a former Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) best known for his prominent role in adopting the red maple leaf as the Flag of Canada.Jennifer Ditchburn, "Peter Milliken fascinated by Commons workings from an early age" (Canadian Press, January 29, 2001 Milliken holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics from Queen's University (1968), a Bachelor of Arts (1970) and Master of Arts (1978) in Jurisprudence from Oxford University, (Wadham College), in England, and a Bachelor of Laws (1971) degree from Dalhousie University.[http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/riding/143/#Hutchison Peter Milliken biographical sketch, "Canada votes 2006"], Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He was active in student politics, and served a year as speaker of the student government's assembly at Queen's. In 1967-68, he worked as a special assistant to federal cabinet minister George J. McIlraith.Judi McLeod, "Gentleman Politician", Kingston Whig-Standard, August 5, 1988, p. 1.

Called to the Ontario Bar in 1973, Milliken was a partner at the prestigious Kingston law firm, Cunningham, Swan, Carty, Little & Bonham, before entering political life. He also lectured on a part-time basis at the Queen's University School of Business from 1973 to 1981, became a governor of the Kingston General Hospital in 1977, and has been a trustee with the Chalmers United Church.Lynn Messerschmidt, "Longtime Liberal challenges city councillor for nomination", Kingston Whig-Standard, March 9, 1988, p. 1. As a consultant, he produced the Milliken Report on the future of Queen's University athletics in the late 1970s. A fan of classical music, he has sung with the Pro Arte Singers and the Chalmers United Church Choir as well as serving on the board of the Kingston Symphony.Anne Kershaw, "Peter Milliken: Liberal Party", Kingston Whig-Standard, November 19, 1988, p. 1. He also often canoes, taking week-long trips in northern Canada. In 2001, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the State University of New York at Potsdam.[http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/House/Speaker/speeches/speeches_4_2_e.html Peter Milliken, Commencement Address to the State University of New York at Potsdam], May 20, 2001. He is an honorary member of the Royal Military College of Canada, and an Honorary Patron of Choirs Ontario.

Milliken has long been active in political matters, having served as president of the Frontenac Addington Provincial Liberal Association Kingston in the 1980s. He subscribed to the Canadian House of Commons Hansard at age sixteen, and once wrote a thesis paper on Question Period.Jeffrey Simpson, "Speaking of politics: a race too close to call", Globe and Mail, January 10, 2001, A15. Unlike most MPs, he was already well-versed in parliamentary procedure at the time of his first election.Stevie Cameron, "Time will tell whether promising neophytes produce a good show", Globe and Mail, November 24, 1988, A2.

Milliken won the Kingston and the Islands Liberal nomination in 1988 over local alderman Alex Lampropoulos,Carol Goar, "The first time Bill MacAleer ...", Toronto Star, May 26, 1988. and defeated well-known Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Flora MacDonald by 2,712 votes in the 1988 general election. The Progressive Conservatives won the election with a majority government, and in early 1989 Milliken was named as the Liberal Party's critic for electoral reform, associate critic for senior citizens, and whip for eastern and northern Ontario.Bill Hutchison, "Milliken appointed to shadow cabinet", Kingston Whig-Standard, February 7, 1989, p. 1. Shortly thereafter, he was named to the parliamentary standing committee on elections, privileges, procedures and private members' business."Milliken appointed to special Commons committee", Kingston Whig-Standard, April 18, 1989, p. 1. He supported Jean Chrétien for the federal Liberal leadership in 1990.Geoff Pounsett, "Missing Meech deadline won't kill Canada: Chrétien", Kingston Whig-Standard, May 28, 1990, p. 2.

He was easily re-elected in the 1993 election, as the Liberal Party won a majority government, and was named to a two-year term as parliamentary secretary to the Government House Leader in December 1993. He also became chair of the Commons Procedure and House Affairs Committee.Hugh Winsor, "Chrétien grooms rookies", Globe and Mail, December 7, 1993, A1; "MPs may try to halt change in ridings", Hamilton Spectator, March 15, 1994, C9. Milliken was a leading candidate for Speaker of the House in January 1994, but lost to Gilbert Parent.

Milliken supported fellow Kingstonian John Gerretsen for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party in 1996, and moved to the camp of the eventual winner, Dalton McGuinty, after Gerretsen was eliminated on the second ballot.Murray Hogben, "Local delegates had plenty of decisions to make", Kingston-Whig Standard, December 2, 1996. In the same year, Milliken and fellow Liberal MP John Godfrey introduced the Godfrey-Milliken Bill as a satirical response to the American Helms-Burton Act."Beware the wrath of the Loyalists", Financial Post, July 25, 1996, p. 12 and Allan Fotheringham, "Ridicule is the best policy when taking on Helms-Burton", Financial Post, July 27, 1996, p. 17. The Bill, which would have allowed the descendants of United Empire Loyalists to claim compensation for land seized in the American Revolution, was drafted in response to provisions in the Helms-Burton Act which sought to punish Canadian companies for using land nationalised by Fidel Castro's government in Cuba."MPs mock Helms-Burton at Congress", Globe and Mail, February 12, 1997, N10. Godfrey and Milliken gave a twenty-minute presentation on their bill in Washington, D.C. in early 1997, and were greeted with warm applause from local Helms-Burton opponents.Kathleen Kenna, "U.S. crowd applauds MPs' jabs at Cuba law", Toronto Star, February 12, 1997, A16.

Milliken was re-elected for a third term in 1997 election, and became Deputy Speaker of the House for the parliament that followed."PM makes Reform MP a deputy Speaker", Globe and Mail, September 24, 1997, A4.

File:Barack Obama signs Parliament of Canada guestbook 2-19-09.JPG as US President Barack Obama signs the Parliament guest book on February 19, 2009]]

Milliken was elected Speaker of the House in late January 2001, after five ballots of a secret vote of all MPs held at the first sitting of parliament following the 2000 federal election.Broadcast News, January 29, 2001, 16:34 report. He was widely praised by government and opposition MPs for his rulings, which were considered very fair.Graham Fraser, "It's High Noon and he's the marshal", Toronto Star, June 9, 2001, NR04. He also brought new life to the chair in delivering his rulings and remarks with witty humour. Elected for his fifth term in 2004, he was the unanimous choice of MPs to be re-elected Speaker for the next parliament."Peter Milliken is the unanimous choice of MP's to be speaker of the House of Commons", Broadcast News, October 4, 2004, 11:07 report.

In 2005, Milliken prevented an early federal election by breaking a tie vote on the second reading of Bill C-48, an amendment to the 2005 federal budget, which was a confidence motion. The vote was 152 in favour and 152 against prior to his vote, and he voted in favour of the bill. The Speaker does not vote except in the case of a tie, and must vote, by precedent, in such a way as to keep the matter open for further consideration if possible (i.e. passing C-48 to allow further debate for a third reading). This was the first time in Canadian history that a Speaker used his tie-breaker vote on a confidence motion. Upon rising to give brief remarks and cast his vote, he remarked "I don't know why honourable members keep doing this to me."John Ward, "Speaker's tie-breaking vote to save the minority government was a first", Canadian Press, May 19, 2005, 17:54 report.{{cite web|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Pub=Hansard&Mee=102&Language=E&Parl=38&Ses=1#SOB-1296884|title=Edited Hansard * Table of Contents * Number 102 (Official Version)|website=www.parl.gc.ca|access-date=2016-09-22}}

{{wikinews|Speaker breaks tie by voting for Canadian budget}}

Milliken won his riding for a sixth time in the 2006 election, as the Conservative Party won a minority government nationally. Though his party was no longer in government, he was re-elected Speaker of the House for the 39th Parliament on April 3, 2006, defeating fellow Liberals Diane Marleau and Marcel Proulx on the first ballot.Brock Harrison, "Speaker's job still available", Kingston Whig-Standard, February 7, 2006, p. 1. With his re-election, he became only the second Speaker chosen from an opposition party in the history of the House of Commons (James Jerome, Liberal Member of Parliament for the Sudbury riding during the Joe Clark government, being the other).There was also an "opposition speaker" in the 1926, although the circumstances were much different. Rodolphe Lemieux, a Liberal, was chosen as speaker during the Liberal government of William Lyon Mackenzie King, and continued to serve in that capacity after King's government was defeated and a new ministry briefly formed by Arthur Meighen of the Conservative Party.

In February 2007, Milliken rejected the Conservative government's challenge of an opposition bill that commits the government to implement the Kyoto Accord. The government argued that the bill introduced new spending, and could not be introduced by someone who was not a minister. Milliken ruled that the bill did not specifically commit the government to any new spending, and was therefore in order. The bill was approved by the house, despite government opposition.Allan Woods, "Honour Kyoto, House tells PM", Toronto Star, February 15, 2007, A1.

Milliken was re-elected for a seventh term in the 2008 federal election, which again yielded a Conservative minority government. On November 18, after five ballots, he was elected for the fourth time as Speaker.{{Cite news|date=November 18, 2008|title=Peter Milliken retains position as House Speaker|work=CTV News|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/peter-milliken-retains-position-as-house-speaker-1.343554}} On October 12, 2009, he became the longest serving Canadian House of Commons speaker in history.{{Cite news|date=October 13, 2009|title=Peter Milliken becomes Commons' longest-serving speaker|work=Maclean's|url=https://www.macleans.ca/general/peter-milliken-becomes-commons-longest-serving-speaker/}}

The Speaker only votes in order to break a tie. Speakers of the House of Commons have only needed to vote eleven times in Canadian parliamentary history – he cast five of the ten votes

since Confederation.

On March 18, 2010, the three opposition parties asked Milliken to make a pivotal ruling on a question of privilege (specifically the power to send for persons, papers and records), in regards to Parliament's request for documents on the transfer of Afghan detainees, a notable issue in 2009 and 2010.{{cite news |url= https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/opposition-asserts-supremacy-of-parliament-in-afghan-detainee-issue/article4312058/|title=Opposition asserts supremacy of Parliament in Afghan detainee issue |author=Daniel Leblanc |date=March 18–19, 2010 |work=The Globe and Mail |access-date=June 3, 2023 |location=Toronto}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hilltimes.com/page/view/opposition-03-22-2010 |title= Opposition parties push for a showdown over Afghan documents, PM's power to prorogue|author=Tim Naumetz |date= March 22, 2010|publisher=The Hill Times |access-date=March 21, 2010}}{{cite web |url= http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=2&DocId=4318474#Int-3015650|title=40th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION; EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 128; CONTENTS; Thursday, December 10, 2009; Business of Supply; Opposition Motion--Documents Regarding Afghan Detainees: (preceding line 1650) |author= Hansard|date= December 10, 2009|publisher= Hansard|access-date=March 25, 2010}}{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/afghan-documents-debate-heats-up-1.937669 |title=Afghan documents debate heats up |author=CBC News |date=March 18, 2010 |publisher= CBC News|access-date=April 8, 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://www.macleans.ca/2010/04/13/colvin-redux/ |title=Colvin redux |author=Aaron Wherry |date=April 13, 2010 |publisher=Maclean's |access-date=April 14, 2010 }} On April 27, 2010, Milliken ruled that Parliament had a right to ask for uncensored documents. He asked that all House leaders, ministers and MPs to come to a collective solution by May 11, 2010 "without compromising the security and confidentiality contained.".{{cite news |url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/afghan-records-denial-is-privilege-breach-speaker-1.925268 |title=Afghan records denial is privilege breach: Speaker |date=April 27, 2010 |author=CBC News |publisher=CBC |access-date=April 27, 2010}}{{cite news| url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/801104--tories-have-two-weeks-to-release-afghan-files?bn=1 | location=Toronto | work=The Star | title=Parliament wins in showdown with Stephen Harper government | first=Susan | last=Delacourt | date=April 27, 2010}}

On March 9, 2011, Milliken made two historic rulings finding a prima facie case of contempt of Parliament against the government of Stephen Harper,[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/with-contempt-rulings-milliken-caps-career-filled-with-firsts/article570093/ "With contempt rulings, Milliken caps career filled with firsts"], Globe and Mail, March 9, 2011 referring the matter to the Procedure Committee. The House subsequently voted to "agree with the finding of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs that the government is in contempt of Parliament" in supporting a non-confidence vote on March 25, 2011. Prior to the vote, the last House of Commons which Milliken would preside over, the Speaker was praised by MPs from all sides of the House. Conservative Government House Leader John Baird paid homage to Milliken's career, recalling a meeting he'd had with the Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. "The Speaker of the Commons there said that he and Speakers from all around the Commonwealth look to you as their leader and their inspiration as someone who has conducted himself very professionally. For a Canadian to hear that from a British Speaker is a pretty remarkable conclusion and assessment of your role as Speaker." Baird predicted that Milliken would "go down in history as, if not one of the best Speakers, the best Speaker the House of Commons has ever had."

His is also known to be the first person to start the tradition of the Speaker releasing an official Scotch whisky.[https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/an-oral-history-of-the-speakers-scotch-the-secrets-behind-the-least-likely-antidote-to-political-partisanship "He decided the Speaker should have an official Scotch."], National Post, December 31, 2020

Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff said of Milliken, "You have taught us all – sometimes with modest rebuke, sometimes with stern force of argument – to understand, to respect and to cherish the rules of Canadian democracy, and for that alone all Canadians will be grateful to you."{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/peter-milliken-takes-his-last-stand-as-speaker/article580479/|title=Peter Milliken takes his last stand as Speaker|work=Globe and Mail|date=March 25, 2011|access-date=June 3, 2023}}

On June 18, 2011, Milliken chaired the Liberal Party of Canada constitutional convention which was held by conference call in order to decide whether or not to amend the party's constitution in order to allow the party's leadership convention to be delayed until 2013.[https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/liberals-call-in-saturday-to-debate-leadership-timing-1.1012595 "Liberals call in Saturday to debate leadership timing"], CBC News, June 17, 2011

Later that month, Milliken joined Queen's University as a Fellow at the School of Policy Studies where he teaches and conducts research.[https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/longest-serving-house-speaker-joins-queen-s-1.658147 "Longest-serving House speaker joins Queen's"], CTV News, June 16, 2011 He has also returned to the firm of Cunningham Swan Carty Little & Bonham LLP as Senior Advisor. Milliken also now serves as an elected member of the Governing Board of The University Club at Queen's University in Kingston.

On May 9, 2012, Milliken's official portrait was unveiled on Parliament Hill, and was hung in the Speaker's Corridor of the Centre Block. The portrait was painted by American-Canadian artist Paul Wyse.

• Peter Milliken was appointed to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada on May 8, 2012, giving him the accordant style of The Honourable and the post-nominal letters "PC" for life.{{cite web| url=http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&page=information&sub=council-conseil&doc=members-membres/chronolog-eng.htm#a2011-2020| last=Privy Council Office| author-link=Privy Council Office (Canada)| title=Information Resources > Current Chronological List of Members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada > 2011 –| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| date=May 23, 2012| access-date=June 3, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215221747/http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&page=information&sub=council-conseil&doc=members-membres%2Fchronolog-eng.htm#a2011-2020| archive-date=February 15, 2016| url-status=dead}}
• On 26 December 2014, Peter Milliken was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada giving him the post-nominal letters "OC" for Life.{{cite web|url=http://gg.ca/document.aspx?id=15922&lan=eng|title=The Governor General of Canada|last=General|first=The Office of the Secretary to the Governor|language=en|access-date=2016-09-22}}{{cite web|author=nurun.com |url=http://www.thewhig.com/2015/09/23/milliken-receives-order-of-canada |title=Milliken receives Order of Canada |publisher=The Kingston Whig-Standard |date=2015-09-23 |access-date=2017-07-08}}
• In 2014 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, giving him the post-nominal letters "FRSC" for Life.{{cite web |url=https://rsc-src.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/New%20Fellows%20Citations2014_EN.pdf# |title=Archived copy |access-date=August 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707184710/https://rsc-src.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/New%20Fellows%20Citations2014_EN.pdf |archive-date=July 7, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web|url=http://www.rsc-src.ca/en/search-fellows?keywords_44=&first_name=&last_name=Milliken&display_name=&election_year_21=&academy_25=All&division_24=All&discipline_23=All&is_deceased=0&sort_by=last_name&sort_order=ASC|title=Search Fellows {{!}} The Royal Society of Canada|website=www.rsc-src.ca|access-date=2016-09-22|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924092348/http://www.rsc-src.ca/en/search-fellows?keywords_44=&first_name=&last_name=Milliken&display_name=&election_year_21=&academy_25=All&division_24=All&discipline_23=All&is_deceased=0&sort_by=last_name&sort_order=ASC|url-status=dead}}
• The 27 October 2012 edition of the Canada Gazette states that Milliken received the Grand Cross 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.{{cite web|url=http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012/2012-10-27/html/gh-rg-eng.html#c102 |title=Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 146, Number 43: GOVERNMENT HOUSE |publisher=Canadagazette.gc.ca |date=2012-10-27 |accessdate=2022-08-30}}

;Decorations

• Peter Milliken was awarded the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal in 1992 as a sitting MP along with the Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 {{cite web|url=http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=14&t=6&ln=Milliken|title=The Governor General of Canada|last=General|first=The Office of the Secretary to the Governor|language=en|access-date=2016-09-22}} and the Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 {{cite web|url=http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=210734&t=13&ln=Milliken|title=The Governor General of Canada|last=General|first=The Office of the Secretary to the Governor|language=en|access-date=2016-09-22}}

{{Incomplete list|date=August 2015}}

;Honorary Degrees

{{Incomplete list|date=August 2015}}

{{Infobox COA wide

|escutcheon = Per fess Argent and Gules a fess wavy per fess wavy Azure and Argent, in chief two demi lions Gules issuant from the fess, in base a garb Or;

|crest = Issuant from a Loyalist military coronet Or a demi lion Gules holding the Mace of the House of Commons of Canada Or;

|supporters = Two griffins Or each gorged with a Loyalist military coronet Gules and standing on a grassy mound Vert;

|motto = JE REGARDE BIEN "I Look Carefully" }}

{{2008 Canadian federal election/Kingston and the Islands}}

{{2006 Canadian federal election/Kingston and the Islands}}

{{2004 Canadian federal election/Kingston and the Islands}}

{{2000 Canadian federal election/Kingston and the Islands}}

{{1997 Canadian federal election/Kingston and the Islands}}

{{1993 Canadian federal election/Kingston and the Islands}}

{{1988 Canadian federal election/Kingston and the Islands}}

All electoral information is taken from Elections Canada. Italicized expenditures from elections after 1997 refer to submitted totals, and are presented when the final reviewed totals are not available. Expenditures from 1997 refer to submitted totals.

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• {{Commons category-inline}}
• {{Official website|http://www.petermilliken.com}}
• {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=15664}}
• [http://parl.gc.ca/about/house/collections/fine_arts/speakers/post_confederation/pdf/PASM-Bio-b.pdf The Honourable Peter Andrew Stewart Milliken, P.C., B.A., M.A., LL.B, LL.D - Biography]
• [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U42883 MILLIKEN, Hon. Peter (Andrew Stewart)], Who's Who 2013, A & C Black, 2013; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2012

{{Speakers of the Canadian House of Commons}}

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Category:Speakers of the House of Commons of Canada

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