Frank Miller

Miller, Frank

Frank Miller, politician, premier of Ontario (b at Toronto 14 May 1927). He graduated from McGill U in chemical engineering in 1949. He was a General Motors dealer in Bracebridge, Ont, and operator of several resorts in the Muskoka area. He was councillor in Bracebridge 1967-70 and was elected Conservative MPP for Muskoka in 1971, 1975, 1977 and 1981. As minister of health 1974-77, his move to close some small town hospitals created public controversy, but he became increasingly adept at defusing confrontation. He was minister of natural resources 1977-78, minister of treasury and economics 1978-83 and minister of industry and trade 1983-85.

Considered the most conservative of those who sought to replace William DAVIS, he made a commitment to maintain the social service network built up in Ontario during the previous 41 years of Conservative government. He won the leadership on the third ballot in Jan 1985 and became premier in Feb. His party's popularity fell dramatically at the polls in May 1985 and Miller was unable to form a government. A Liberal-NDP pact made David PETERSON premier, ending a 42-year Tory regime. Miller resigned as leader in Nov of that year to become chairman of Ontario International Corp, staying there until 1992. He left OIC to become chairman of the District Municipality of Muskoka and the Algoma Central Corp.