Miller starts next challenge: provincial politics

Shubenacadie- Margaret Miller is hoping to trade off the red ribbon of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada for the red banner of the Liberal party for Hants East.
Miller, well known for her leadership qualities, her exhaustive work for MADD Canada, and writing the heartfelt book The Gift, announced via her Facebook page she was seeking a Liberal nomination in the Hants East riding, in readiness for the next provincial election.
She wrote. “When one door closes, they say a window opens. After meeting with Liberal leader Stephen McNeil, I’ve agreed to seek the Liberal nomination in the riding of Hants East in preparation for the next provincial election. It’s a huge step and I’ve given it a lot of thought. I know that I can make a difference and be the voice of the people of East Hants.”
When asked about her meaning behind the expression she says she has always experienced something new when one door closes. They farmed, then following retirement, she took up quilting which became a passion, but then Bruce was killed, it seemed like all doors had closed. Then MADD came along and opened a window of opportunity to do something positive and she became National President, making positive changes, seeing how laws are created and how politics can work. She then found a way to help other victims by writing her book The Gift, which has become a resource for MADD to help others overcome grief, and find a sense of peace in tragedy. And now the next step, to take all she has gained from this and use it to benefit East Hants.
Miller has a strong love for East Hants, she came here with her parents in 1961 and it became home. She says she has travelled extensively, but there is no place she would rather be than here. She and her father, dreamed of establishing a campground and they made it happen, bringing the most successful tourism businesses to the area; tidal bore rafting. She and her husband Robert, an East Hants native whose family reaches back to the original 1700 land grants, established their own dairy farm. They farmed for 25 years and raised three children, then eventually retired.
The loss of her youngest child Bruce, a respected RCMP officer, to an impaired driver changed her life. She says she lost her sense that the world was a just place, and wanted to right the wrongs in the justice system. It bought her to her involvement with MADD and in 2007 she became the National President where she met with political leaders from all parties at provincial and federal level during her three year tenure. They were asked to do the right thing and change impaired driving legislation at both a provincial and federal level.
This experience opened her eyes to the good in the majority of politicians, seeing them as fine and sincere people wanting the best for their constituents. However she was disappointed to return home to her own province to find the MLA expense scandal. Her biggest disappointment was the attitude that stealing was acceptable as long as it was paid back. To her it was and is not acceptable at any time. She believes in transparency, accountability and ethics in politics something we expect from other people we meet and should as well from politicians.
She began to listen to Stephen MacNeil and the Liberal party and liked what she was hearing, so when she had the opportunity to become involved or stop complaining about what she saw wrong in our politics she and took action and got involved. She believes MacNeil is a man of integrity and will honour his word to Nova Scotians. She too believes in integrity and plans to avoid the usual mudslinging associated with politics.
She also believes in East Hants and wants to see it move forward. She has several family members who live and work here, both Miller and Knol families.
“I believe in the strength of our people and our values,” says Miller, “I believe that we need strong business to flourish, we want our children to find good jobs here and not have to leave. How many families are separated for long periods because one partner works in the western provinces? We need to focus on the importance of education and training an effective work force. Budgets are being cut until nothing is left and our health care cuts should be causing concern. More people are using food banks; that is the real measure of the seriousness of our situation.”
She recognizes the deep roots and importance of our farming community, but does not see it being given the due consideration it needs and deserves. The same can be said for the forestry industry, which aside from the big mills is being pushed closer to the brink every day. Both these industries are often the life blood of the communities. She also says there needs to be effective policing and if satellites in these areas are what is needed, then she would fight to see it happen. There is no need for someone to have to wait 30 or more minutes for a response.
She says, “But it’s not about what I want, it’s what the voters want, what they feel are the priorities in their communities and their vision of the future. The MLA is the voice of the people.”
Right now she has officially signed the papers to list her as a nominee. There may be others to come forward over the next while until a nomination meeting is held at some point in the future and then an election will be held to determine which nominee becomes the official representative. Her goal right now is to gain supporters for herself and help build the Liberal party within East Hants.
She will still volunteer with MADD on a limited level, it will always be important to her, it has given her the confidence and the experience to work for what she believes in. But she says she wants people to understand, she is not seeking this position as a way to further her work with MADD, nor will it be a campaign about anti-drinking. She is not a ‘prohibitionist tee-totaller’, she recognizes prohibition does not work, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with social drinking. She just asks that people do not drive impaired; we have lost enough of our youth.
For anyone who wishes to get involved they can reach Miller at margaretmilller@bellaliant.net or check out her website at margaretmiller.net
anitabenedict@enfieldweeklypress.com