David Miller

Background

Miller was born in San Francisco, California. His American father, Joe Miller, died of cancer in 1960, and his English mother Joan returned with her son to Thriplow, south of Cambridge. Miller spent his earliest years in England before moving to Canada with his mother in 1967. He attended Lakefield College School on a scholarship.

Miller completed a four-year undergraduate degree at Harvard University, graduating summa cum laude in Economics in 1981. He earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 1984 and became a partner at the prominent Toronto law firm of Aird & Berlis LLP, specializing in employment, immigration law and shareholder rights. He represented Toronto Islands residents in a 1985 arbitration case while an articling student, and later described this experience as his introduction to municipal politics. He married fellow lawyer Jill Arthur in 1994, and the pair have two children.

Miller joined the New Democratic Party (NDP) in 1985. He first ran for Metropolitan Toronto council in 1991, campaigning on a platform of public transit improvements to establish Toronto as a world-class city. He lost to incumbent councillor Derwyn Shea. Miller was subsequently the NDP's candidate for Parkdale—High Park in the 1993 Canadian federal election, and finished fourth against Liberal incumbent Jesse Flis. He did not renew his membership in the NDP when it expired in 2007, stating that he did not want to be seen as partisan when dealing with the provincial and federal governments. In 2011, he joined NYU Poly as a faculty member.

Councillor

Metro councillor

Miller campaigned for the Metro Toronto Council a second time in 1994, and was elected for the High Park ward over former Member of Parliament Andrew Witer and future Cabinet minister Tony Clement. Following the election, he was appointed to the Metro Planning and Transportation Committee, the Metro Anti-racism Committee, and the Board of Governors for Exhibition Place. He spoke against Metro's decision to cut $3 million from its staffing budget in early 1995, arguing that the resulting hardship for laid-off workers during a national recession would be "unconscionable".

The provincial government of Mike Harris amalgamated several surrounding municipalities into the City of Toronto in 1997, with the stated intention of eliminating duplication of services and increasing efficiency. Miller argued that the decision to eliminate six local councils and establish a "megacity" was carried out without public approval. He proposed an alternate plan to fold the six local councils into the existing Metro council, but this received little support.

He campaigned for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1996, running as the NDP candidate in York South to succeed outgoing party leader Bob Rae. He was narrowly defeated by Liberal Party candidate Gerard Kennedy.

Toronto councillor

Following the amalgamation of Toronto, Miller was elected to the new Toronto City Council in the 1997 election, winning one of the two seats in Ward 19 High Park. He was appointed to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) after the election, and became a prominent ally of TTC chair Howard Moscoe. He was also appointed to lead a twelve-member committee that studied the transition to amalgamated municipal services, and successfully advocated that Toronto City Hall rather than Metro Hall to be the permanent seat of the new government. Miller later served on a three-member committee that recommended changes to the municipal ward boundaries.

Miller issued a formal apology on behalf of the TTC in June 1999, following complaints about a subway advertisement by the Toronto police union that some believed depicted Hispanics as criminals. The following year, he argued that the union's controversial "Operation True Blue" telemarketing campaign was creating a climate of intimidation for Toronto residents. Both Miller and his wife claimed that they had received threatening telephone calls during the 2000 municipal election, after the police union listed his home telephone number in a campaign advertisement.

Miller became known as an advocate for waterfront parklands during his time on council. He supported several aspects of a 2000 report from Robert Fung of the Toronto Waterfront Task Force, while criticizing the proposal to sell parkland near Exhibition Place for private development. He also opposed plans to construct a condominium near Toronto's High Park within his ward, instead supporting the construction of affordable housing for low-income residents.

Toronto's existing Keele Valley Landfill would reach capacity by 2002. Miller strongly opposed a plan by Mayor Mel Lastman to ship the city's garbage to the Adams Mine in Northern Ontario, which was ultimately voted down by council. The city instead sent its trash to Carleton Farms Landfill.

Following electoral redistribution, Miller was re-elected in 2000 over fellow councillor Bill Saundercook in Ward 13 Parkdale-High Park. He was re-appointed to the TTC and sought election as its chair, but was passed over in favour of Brian Ashton. In 2001, he expressed concern that the Wheel-Trans bus service for the disabled might be contracted out to the private sector.

2003 mayoral campaign

Miller's plans to run for mayor were well-known around city hall in 2002, and there was little surprise when he formally declared his candidacy in January 2003. His earliest supporters included councillors Howard Moscoe, Sandra Bussin, Irene Jones and Anne Johnston and urban planner Jane Jacobs. He was later endorsed by councillors Olivia Chow, Joe Pantalone and Brian Ashton, public figures such as June Callwood, Judy Rebick, Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje and Michele Landsberg, American environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association. Toronto Star columnist Royson James and councillors Raymond Cho and Michael Walker also endorsed Miller near the end of the campaign.

Miller's campaign organization was diverse. As well as support from many New Democrats and social activists, his top campaign strategists included veteran Conservative John Laschinger and Liberal Peter Donolo. Architect Jack Diamond was also a co-chair of his campaign.

Miller used a broom as a prop in this campaign, symbolizing his commitment to cleaning up Toronto both literally, in terms of litter, and metaphorically, arguing that there were shady deals at City Hall. He pledged to cancel the airport bridge, appoint a municipal ethics commissioner, and promote public transit by fully implementing the TTC's ridership growth plan. He supported a police request to hire thirty-two new officers, and opposed rival candidate John Tory's plans for trash incineration in favour of continuing garbage shipments to Michigan.

At one stage in the campaign, Miller raised the possibility of collecting tolls on the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway. After criticism from other candidates, including John Tory who described it as "Highway Robbery", Miller dropped the suggestion.

At the start of the campaign in early 2003, Barbara Hall led by a wide margin, with John Nunziata a distant second, while Miller and Tory initially had support in single digits. Miller's polling numbers stalled around 12-13 per cent for most of 2003, but increased in October when front-runner Hall suddenly lost much of her support. He first led a citywide poll on October 22, 2003, scoring 31 per cent support against 29 per cent for Hall and 23 per cent for John Tory.

Mayor of Toronto (2003–2010)

Miller's first term as mayor focused on issues such as waterfront renewal, public transit and municipal reform. He also shifted toward a focus on community safety issues following an increase in gun violence during 2005. Many of Miller's initiatives did not come to fruition within his first few years as mayor. Supporters pointed out they were centred on long-term development goals, while detractors criticized the pace of change.

Waterfront policy

Soon after his election, Miller led the council to reverse its support for the Toronto City Centre Airport Bridge. He argued that the bridge was detrimental to the regional environment, was unwanted by most local residents, and stood in the way of a more comprehensive renewal of the waterfront economy. Supporters of the bridge argued that it would make airline service more efficient, and provide a financial benefit. The vote, held on December 3, 2003, was 32-12 in favour of withdrawal. Afterwards, the federal government announced that it would withdraw its support for the project. There were subsequent threats of legal action against the City by the Toronto Port Authority (TPA) and developer Robert Deluce, but these were settled in 2005 when the federal government agreed to pay $35 million in compensation.

The federal payment was controversial for both supporters and opponents of Miller's administration. Liberal MP Tony Ianno defended it as providing fair compensation to legitimate claimants, and saying that it invalidated Miller's pledge to cancel the bridge without incurring further expense. Miller's allies, including NDP leader Jack Layton, argued that the payout was overly generous, and did not reflect the true costs of cancellation. Shortly after the settlement, Miller announced that he would seek the repayment of $27 million in back taxes from the Port Authority to the city.

In early 2006, Robert Deluce announced the creation of a company called Porter Airlines that would start a commuter service at the Island Airport, with the planes built at Bombardier's Downsview plant. It would provide travelers with direct flights to Toronto's city centre, which Pearson International is currently unable to offer, as it is located 30 km away. Opponents of expansion argued that increased services would result in greater noise pollution for downtown residents, as well as preventing other economies from flourishing in the waterfront region. Miller argued that the city may soon have to face the choice of "an industrial or revitalized waterfront". Some supporters of expansion have suggested this is a false dichotomy, and have argued that expansion can be integrated with a larger revitalization plan. Deluce's proposal won support from both business interests and Canadian Auto Workers leader Buzz Hargrove, who said it would create new jobs for workers in the region. A Toronto Star report from early February 2006 indicated most Toronto residents opposed expansion.

In late September 2006, it was reported that Robert Deluce's REGCO (the parent company of Porter Airlines) received $20 million of the $35 million paid by the federal government. This payment assisted Deluce in starting his new airline, and opponents have charged that it was for all intents and purposes a federal subsidy. Miller described the payout as "totally improper".

Fiscal policy

Following his election, Miller appointed conservative councillor David Soknacki as Toronto's budget chief. Although Miller and Soknacki are from different ideological backgrounds, they were political allies in managing the city's finances. Toronto's budget shortfall when Miller assumed office was $344 million. There was a general agreement among local politicians and political analysts that the city needed to increase its residential property tax base. Miller promised to hold such increases to 3 per cent per year.

Miller's first budget was passed by city council in late April 2004, by a vote of 29-10. The city eliminated its previous shortfall while increasing spending by 6 per cent, and keeping residential property taxes increases at 3 per cent and business and industrial property taxes to 1.5 per cent The city's total operating budget for the year was $6.7 billion.

Miller engaged in a scaled-back consultation process prior to delivering his second budget in 2005. Following months of difficult negotiations, the city passed a balanced budget by taking $19.8 million from its reserve funds. Soknacki acknowledged that this was a difficult decision, and Miller's administration argued that the provincial government had increased Toronto's budgetary difficulties by not providing $72.3 million for provincially mandated social programs. During the late stages of negotiations, provincial Municipal Affairs Minister John Gerretsen suggested that the city could make up for its budgetary shortfall by raising property taxes above 3 per cent. Miller rejected this advice. The total operating budget for the year was $7.1 billion, with residential property tax increases again held to 3 per cent and business and industry property tax increases held to 1.5 per cent. Increased funds were provided to policing, transit, parks and social programs. Miller and Soknacki argued that it was the best possible budget under the circumstances, although it was criticized by several right-wing councillors.

In late 2005, Miller endorsed a policy which shifted a portion of Toronto's property tax burden from businesses and commercial operators to homeowners. Acknowledging that this was a difficult decision, he argued that it was necessary to prevent an exodus of jobs from the city. The decision was endorsed by the Toronto Industry Network. Toronto's capital budget for 2006 was $1.3 billion, and was targeted toward such items as road repairs, police stations and recreation centres.

Transit policy

Miller took part in negotiations with the federal and provincial governments during 2004, which resulted in one billion dollars in additional funding being allocated for the TTC over five years. The city also received an additional $70 million in up-front provincial funding in 2004 to forestall a fare increase.

In late 2004, the provincial government of Dalton McGuinty announced that it would provide $355 million in provincial gas tax revenues for the TTC over three years. Miller welcomed this investment, but later criticized the McGuinty government for including a planned cash bailout in early 2005 as part of its larger grant, rather than as a separate cash investment. Miller's first TTC operating budget in 2004 was $219 million.

With Miller's permission, the TTC approved a small fare increase in early 2005. The price of adult tickets and tokens was increased by ten cents, while adult cash fare was increased 25 cents. The TTC mitigated this change by introducing a weekly $30 pass that could be transferred among several users. TTC chair Howard Moscoe said that the rise was unfortunate, but argued that it was "basically an inflationary increase".

Miller endorsed the creation of a streetcar right-of-way along St. Clair Avenue, a six-lane arterial road within the city, in accordance with the recommendations of the TTC ridership plan. The right-of-way project passed council by a vote of 36-7 in September 2004, but triggered some local opposition. Supporters argue that the project will make public transit more efficient, and set an important precedent for public transit expansion. Opponents, especially in the Dufferin Street business community, have criticized the plan on the grounds that it will reduce customer parking during rush hour. Other opponents, including the Canadian Automobile Association have argued that the right-of-way will increase automobile congestion, since the proposal bans left turns and may divert traffic to neighbourhood streets. Supporters have questioned this latter claim, claiming instead that the previous right-of-way streetcar implemented on Spadina Avenue was a success. Former Toronto mayor John Sewell, a long-standing supporter of public transit, has emerged as a vocal opponent of the right-of-way plan.

A group called Save-Our-St. Clair (SOS) took its objections to the Ontario Superior Court in 2005, and won a panel ruling which forced a halt to the project in October. The city subsequently cited a potential bias on the part of one of the judges, and asked that the ruling be set aside. The panel voted 2-1 to recuse themselves in November 2005, and so overturned their previous decision. In February 2006, the Ontario Divisional Court ruled against SOS and gave the city authority to move forward with the project.

Police issues

After assuming office, Miller became involved in the long-standing and polarizing debates over Toronto's police budget, the city's largest single expenditure. The city had previously approved several large increases for the police during Mel Lastman's tenure as mayor. The force's 2004 request was for $691.4 million, an increase of $57 million from the previous year. Municipal budget chief David Soknacki initially requested that the police cut $14.2 million from their request, a figure which Chief of Police Julian Fantino argued would jeopardize essential services. After a lengthy and sometimes heated debate, the council voted 40-5 on April 21, 2004, to approve a police budget of $679.1 million.

Police spending has increased by $117 million under Miller's administration, and 450 new officers have been put on the streets. In November 2006, Miller stood with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Dalton McGuinty to announce tougher bail conditions for persons accused of gun crimes. Miller and McGuinty both support Harper's plan for a "reverse-onus" provision, in which persons accused of gun crimes will be required to demonstrate why they should not be held in custody before a trial. Harper has rejected Miller's call for a ban on handguns.

Later in the year, Miller became involved in a labour dispute between the Police Services Board and the Toronto Police Association. The board, led by councillor Pam McConnell, wanted to save revenue by clawing back existing rates of retention pay and eliminating lunch-hour pay for officers on inactive duty during compressed shifts. The police association argued that the proposals would cause an exodus of officers and result in lower pay for officers working compressed schedules. After a series of acrimonious meetings, negotiations broke down and the association entered a work-to-rule campaign by refusing to patrol or hand out fines.

During the course of this dispute, the association printed full-page advertisements in the Toronto Star and Toronto Sun asking Miller to become personally involved through his role as a board member. It also issued an open letter which asked if Miller wanted to be remembered "as the mayor who was tough on crime, or the mayor who was tough on cops". On October 31, Miller informed the media that he was working to bring both sides together. A tentative deal was signed in early November, with reports that board had compromised on retention pay. One published report suggests that Ralph Lean, a leading Miller fundraiser, played an instrumental role in ending the dispute through private negotiations with former association head Craig Bromell.

Environmental policy

Shortly after assuming office, Miller introduced a $3 million "clean and beautiful" city initiative to involve ordinary Torontonians in the cleanup of their city. A more comprehensive plan was subsequently introduced and approved by council later in the year, allocating an extra $21 million over three years to pay for various cleanups. The "clean and beautiful" project was allocated $6.4 million in 2005, with much of the money directed toward projects such as litter pickup and cleanups of neglected public space.

Miller announced in May 2004 that Toronto would install over 2,000 energy-efficient traffic signal lights. He also endorsed the Deep lake water cooling project, in which water from Lake Ontario is used to cool office buildings in downtown Toronto. In early 2005, he and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley made a joint address to the Great Lakes Congressional Breakfast in Washington, D.C. Miller was the first Canadian mayor to address the meeting.

A municipal "litter audit" in September 2006 found that the city was 40 per cent cleaner from the previous year. The survey chose 298 random sites throughout the city, and measured the amount of litter in each area.

The City of Toronto is introducing a 9 per cent water rate increase for 2007, with similar increases expected for the foreseeable future. Miller's administration argues that the money is needed to fix aging water and sewer pipes.

In March 2007, Miller unveiled a plan to reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2020, and by 80 per cent in 2050 (based on a 1990 baseline). Miller has argued that the plan is viable, and is based on similar initiatives in the European Union.

When Miller was elected mayor, Toronto's garbage had for several years been shipped to Carleton Farms Landfill in the U.S. state of Michigan, through a contract with the firm Republic Services. This arrangement was strongly criticized by politicians in both Michigan and Ontario, citing the undesirability and accidents of trucks passing through. Opponents argued that it would not be sustainable in the long term, with U.S. politicians lobbying to close off the border to garbage exports, while the Southwestern Ontario Trash coalition of cities voiced concerns that they would be forced to bear Toronto's garbage in the event of a border closure. Some politicians, including John Tory and Dalton McGuinty, supported the option of local trash incineration as it would reduce dependence on landfill space. Miller opposed this, citing both cost concerns and a threat to the environment. He also reiterated his opposition to shipping Toronto's garbage to the Adams Mine landfill near Kirkland Lake in Northern Ontario. In 2005, Miller led the city in renewing its contract with Republic for five years.

Housing policy

Miller convened a summit on affordable housing in late February 2004, bringing in representatives from all three levels of government. As the summit was formally convened, he secured $24 million in funding from the provincial government to construct more than 900 units of housing for low-to-middle income earners. Council voted later in the year to approve $13.6 million for new housing projects, amounting to 312 new homes. Miller's housing advisor, Sean Goetz-Gadon, argued in 2004 that Toronto could accommodate 10,000 subsidized housing units for both people experiencing homelessness and those at risk of homelessness.

Miller brought forward a series of measures to provide shelter and warmth for Toronto's homeless population during the winter months in 2004, including a decision to set up an emergency centre before Christmas. The shelter had 80 beds, and provided reference services. During the previous Lastman administration, the city had responded to specific emergencies rather than determining a strategy in advance.

In early 2005, Miller helped steer a motion through council which banned the people from sleeping in Nathan Phillips Square. He said that the plan was intended as a "nudge" to push people in the direction of finding shelters, and added that no one would be arrested. The initiative entitled Streets to Homes also called for the creation of 1,000 new affordable housing units per year, and the creation of another emergency shelter. By December 2005, the city had helped 533 people experiencing homelessness find permanent apartments.

In May 2005, Miller's administration presided over the approval of 6,500 new units of housing on brownfield land near the Don River. The project, originally called Ataratiri, had been delayed for 17 years. Two months later, Miller led council in creating a new committee to fast-track the approval of affordable housing. In February 2006, Miller began a comprehensive housing renewal project in Toronto's Regent Park area.

In January 2007, Miller criticized an Ontario Municipal Board decision which allowed a high-rise project on Queen Street West. The area is known for art galleries and low-rent studios, and Miller has argued that high-rise construction will compromise the city's creative sector. He later introduced a motion directing staff to "pursue all available options" against the OMB's decision. The motion was passed by a vote of 33-11 in February 2007.

Culture

Miller created a new Toronto Film Board in November 2004 to improve the economic prospects of the city's multibillion-dollar film industry. He was himself designated as the board's chair, and convened its first meeting in February 2005. Toronto also received $500,000 from the federal government for cultural spending in 2005, and Miller led Toronto in hosting a year-long festival of the arts in 2006. He introduced "Toronto Unlimited" as Toronto's new promotional slogan in the summer of 2005.

In late 2005, Miller helped convince the city to invest $9.8 million in a new soccer-specific stadium at Exhibition Place, which was later named BMO Field. In March 2006, he helped introduce an "historic" Wi-Fi network to Toronto.

Intergovernmental relations

Miller welcomed the arrival of Paul Martin's Government in late 2003, claiming that Martin was the first prime minister to directly address municipal issues. He endorsed the Martin government's "New Deal for Cities" plan in February 2004, and supported Martin's pledge to waive the Goods and Services Tax for cities. He was a prominent supporter of the Martin government's 2005 budget, and argued against bringing down the minority Liberal government to force a summer election. In June 2005, Miller welcomed a federal commitment to provide $1.9 billion to Ontario municipalities over five years from federal gas tax revenues.

Miller convened a meeting of Canada's major urban mayors in January 2004, and argued at the summit that Canadian cities needed enhanced powers of governance to deal with a variety modern challenges. In September of the same year, Miller hosted a meeting of ten major city Canadian mayors, examining the issue of federal gas tax revenues.

In February 2004, Miller called for greater coordination between all three levels of government in overseeing patterns of immigration within Canada. In early 2005, the City of Toronto earmarked up to $5 million to assist about 2,000 refugees who were expected to arrive from tsunami-ravaged areas of Southeast Asia.

Miller did not support any party in the 2004 federal election, endorsing four individual candidates: New Democrats Peggy Nash and Olivia Chow, and Liberals John Godfrey and Borys Wrzesnewskyj. In 2005, when federal Social Development Minister Ken Dryden was planning a national childcare strategy, Miller spoke in favour of a system based around public delivery.

Miller endorsed only two candidates in the 2006 federal election: Liberal John Godfrey and New Democrat Peggy Nash. Unsuccessful NDP candidate and former provincial MPP Marilyn Churley blamed Miller for withholding support from other New Democrats. According to one report, Churley briefly mused challenging him for mayor in 2006 before deciding not to do so. Miller supported Paul Martin's call for a total ban on handguns, and urged Martin to bring forward tougher bail conditions on persons accused of gun crimes.

Monte Solberg of the Conservative Party met with Miller in June 2005, and told Miller that the Conservative Party would honour existing agreements for waterfront renewal if elected. Despite ideological differences, Miller commended Stephen Harper, who was elected as Martin's successor in 2006, for taking urban issues seriously. Miller supported the appointment of Lawrence Cannon as Minister for Communities in February 2006, and tried without success to persuade the Harper government against eliminating Canada's national child-care plan. He expressed mixed views about the Harper government's first budget, noting that it allowed Toronto to construct 1,000 units of affordable housing while also expressing concern about cuts to child-care spaces.

Political reforms

Miller appointed David Mullan as Toronto's first Integrity Commissioner in July 2004. In the same month, he brought forward a motion calling for council to ban corporate and union donations to municipal candidates. He later introduced a comprehensive plan to restructure Toronto's bureaucracy, highlighted by the elimination of three $200,000 a year positions. In making the changes, Miller described Toronto's existing bureaucracy as "incomprehensible to Torontonians" and in need of reform. The package passed council by a vote of 33-9. Miller tried to create a mandatory lobbyist registry in September 2006, but council voted to refer the matter for further study.

In February 2007, council endorsed Miller's lobbyist registry by a vote of 33-9. The new bylaw applies to unions, except in discussions over contracts and health and safety issues.

Miller supports the current non-partisan system of municipal government in Toronto. He has opposed suggestions that party politics should be introduced, arguing that this would undermine the consensus nature of municipal government and "creat[e] a group of people who have a duty to oppose". Initially skeptical about the "strong-mayor system", where the mayor holds increased powers relative to other councillors, Miller endorsed a 2005 panel report which gave the mayor additional powers and created a formal city executive. He argued that Toronto needed to restructure itself before getting new powers from the province. Council endorsed the reforms in December 2005.

In May 2006, the provincial government passed legislation to extend municipal terms from three years to four. Miller supported the change, saying that municipal leaders need longer terms of office to carry out their mandate. In June 2006, he led council in approving a measure to permit the mayor to appoint heads of committees. He also introduced a new "Building A Great City website in 2006, allowing Torontonians to follow the development of key issues on city council.

Media coverage

In early 2004, Miller re-introduced an hour-long call-in television show called The Mayor on CP24. A staff member at the station commented on the difference between the Miller's show and that of his predecessor: "with Miller you receive answers to questions. Lastman's show was just a circus." In the same year, filmmaker Andrew Munger released In Campaign: The Making of A Candidate as a behind-the-scenes look at Miller's 2003 campaign.

Miller was profiled in the April 2006 edition of Vanity Fair magazine, which praised his environmental record.

2006 mayoral campaign

Miller reassembled his first mayoral campaign team for his 2006 re-election bid. John Laschinger and Peter Donolo returned in prominent roles, joined by new figures such as Ralph Lean and John Ronson as fundraisers, Dan Tisch as communications chair, and other prominent supporters such as Patrick Gossage, Jane Pepino and Michael Lewis, the brother of Stephen Lewis. David Crombie and former Ontario premier David Peterson were named as honorary co-chairs. Miller highlighted safety issues at his campaign launch, and criticized the federal Conservative government's plans to cancel the national gun registry. He received a qualified endorsement from the Toronto Star newspaper shortly before election day.

Miller's primary opponent was councillor Jane Pitfield. Pitfield criticized city spending, and described Miller the "Billion Dollar Man" for overseeing spending increases of $1.3 billion since 2003. Miller responded that Toronto's share was only $275 million, with the remainder coming from the provincial and federal governments. He later described most of the spending as "new investment we've secured from provincial and federal government to meet the needs of our city in public transit, in housing, or the 58 new child care centres that we've opened in Toronto this month alone, in Toronto's poorest neighbourhoods".

Miller outlined his waterfront renewal plan in October 2006, highlighted by 750 acres (3.0 km2) of new public spaces and parks from Scarborough to Etobicoke. While making this announcement, he described the Toronto Port Authority as "a rogue agency that is not accountable to anyone" and renewed his criticism of the expanding island airport. His environmental strategy outlines a four-year neighbourhood beautification program in each of Toronto's neighbourhoods.

Miller called for more dedicated bus lines and increased light rapid transit, with a corresponding de-emphasis on subway construction. He has also called for a Universal Transit Pass (or "U-pass"), to encourage transit use among college and university students. He promised to continue to limit tax increases to the rate of inflation, and announced $13 million to improve community safety in thirteen troubled neighbourhoods.

In his campaign platform, released November 1, 2006, Miller promised 4,000 units of affordable housing, a mandatory lobbyist registry, and a further expansion of the green bin program into apartments and condominiums. He said that he would negotiate with the federal and provincial governments for a share of the Goods and Services Tax and Provincial Sales Tax, noting that a GST/PST transfer of only one cent would increase Toronto's annual revenues by $450 million. Miller also called for a National Transit Strategy to fund public transit in Canada's largest cities.

2010 election

On September 25, 2009, Miller announced that he would not seek a third term as mayor in the 2010 election, citing family reasons. An Ipsos Reid poll earlier that month revealed that almost 8 in 10 Torontonians wanted Miller replaced as mayor, over dissatisfaction at his handling of the 39-day municipal strike. Many of Miller's supporters had defected to other potential candidates, likely to be former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader John Tory or Deputy Premier George Smitherman.

In early October 2010, Miller gave his endorsement to Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone, who claimed that he was "no clone of David Miller", but whose platform largely continued the status quo with Miller's policies, in contrast to the other mayoral candidates who advocated sweeping changes. Pantalone was lagging considerably behind Councillor Rob Ford and former Ontario Deputy Premier George Smitherman in polls, and Smitherman dismissed Miller's support of Pantalone saying "If voters wanted the status quo, David Miller would still be in this race." Miller has accused Ford and Smitherman of wanting to "tear down Toronto", and suggested that Smitherman posed the greater danger as mayor.

Late in the campaign, Smitherman left a voice-mail with Miller to ask Pantalone to withdraw from the race but Miller never returned the call. (Back in the 2003 mayoral election, Smitherman had worked for the campaign of Barbara Hall, which tried to persuade Miller to drop out of the race.)

Ford was elected mayor with 47.1 per cent of the vote, while Smitherman and Pantalone finished second and third, with 35.6 per cent and 11.7 per cent, respectively.

Post-mayoral career

Following his term as mayor, Miller rejoined the law firm of Aird & Berlis LLP where he specialized in international business and sustainability. He split his time between Toronto and Brooklyn, New York, where he accepted a three-year appointment at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University as Future of Cities Global Fellow to teach courses on finding technological solutions to urban problems. He subsequently served as an advisor on urban issues at the World Bank from 2011 to 2013. In 2013 he was appointed president and CEO of WWF-Canada, the Canadian division of the international World Wildlife Fund.

At the end of 2017, he left his position as CEO of WWF-Canada to become North American director for C40 Cities coalition.

Miller is now the Chair of the Board for B.C. Infrastructure Benefits, a Crown corporation that works to grow and diversify the skilled labour force in British Columbia.

On November 20, 2024 Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles announced her appointment of Miller as a Special Advisor on "crafting a new deal for municipalities."

Electoral record

Municipal politics

For full results, see 2006 Toronto municipal election.

For full results, see Results of the 2003 Toronto election.

Electors could vote for two candidates in the 1997 election.

The percentages are determined in relation to the total number of votes.

The 1991 results are taken from a Toronto Star newspaper report on November 13, 1991, with 192 of 196 polls having reported. The final results were not significantly different. All other municipal results are taken from official summaries made available by the City of Toronto.

Provincial and federal politics

The provincial electoral data is taken from Elections Ontario, and the federal data from Elections Canada.