After 11 years at Queen’s Park, John Milloy has a new job.
The former Kitchener Centre MPP was announced this week as the new co-director of the Centre for Public Ethics at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.
He will also work as an assistant professor of ethics at that organization, and as a practitioner-in-residence in applied political science at Wilfrid Laurier University.
He says one of his goals in his new positions will be to give students a “behind-the-scenes look at how things really work” and maybe entice some of them into his previous line of work.
“We need to encourage young people to see public service, whether in politics or in the bureaucracy, as a true calling. We need the best and the brightest,” he told CTV News in an interview.
Milloy also spoke of a desire to bridge the gap between religious communities and government, and to get religious organizations more involved in the political process.
“We’re not talking about people imposing their faith; we’re talking about them being part of the conversation,” he said.
“We judge their suggestions on their merit, but we don’t dismiss them simply because they come from a religious perspective.”
Specifically, he suggested religious groups might be able to help people left behind by changes in Ontario’s economy.
“I think there’s a real role for the churches … or people of faith to bring their perspective and look for solutions,” said Milloy, a Roman Catholic.
“Government’s not going to be able to do it alone.”
First elected to the provincial legislature in 2003, Milloy stepped down from elected office at the time of the 2014 election.
