Dan Miller Interview: From Pulp Mill to Premier

In this interview, Dan Miller reflects on his varied and influential career. In his youth his family moved often, and he figures he attended 12 or 13 different schools. Graduating high school in North Vancouver, Dan briefly worked on tugboats and then in logging camps, where he was introduced to union issues and labour history.
In 1964, Dan moved to Prince Rupert for work at a pulp mill, where he stayed for a year. He then travelled, got married, and started a family, before returning to Prince Rupert in 1966 and resuming his job at the mill. He completed an apprenticeship as a millwright and became involved in the union, influenced by Angus Macphee, a well-known socialist and union activist.

When Dave Barrett led the B.C. NDP to victory in 1972, Dan was hired as the ministerial assistant to Graham Lea, B.C.’s labour minister, during a period of intense labour strikes. After the defeat of the Barrett government in December 1975, Dan returned to his millwright work, which was a challenging work environment marked by frequent ownership changes and workplace accidents.

Dan stayed politically involved, and won a seat on city council, and later the North Coast riding in the 1986 provincial election. Under Mike Harcourt’s NDP government, Dan held several ministerial posts from 1991 to 2000, including forestry, skills training and labour, and employment and investment. Despite controversy, particularly around the Clayoquot Sound logging debate, Dan implemented various reforms and played a role in establishing Royal Roads University.

Dan served as deputy premier under Glen Clark and became interim NDP leader and premier after Clark’s resignation. He chose not to run for permanent leadership, citing personal and familial tolls. Reflecting on his career, Dan emphasizes the crucial role of the labour movement in improving societal conditions, highlighting his belief in collective efforts to advance workers’ rights and conditions.