John Milloy to teach at Laurier, Waterloo Lutheran Seminary

Former Kitchener Centre Liberal MPP John Milloy has found a new role in academia in Waterloo Region.

Wilfrid Laurier University announced on Wednesday Milloy has accepted a position as assistant professor of public ethics and co-director of the Centre for Public Ethics at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, as well as a position with the university’s political science program as an inaugural practitioner-in-residence in applied political science.

Between the two positions, he will be teaching various courses, doing public lectures and holding skill building workshops for undergraduate and graduate students. 

Milloy, who was first elected in 2003 and opted not to seek re-election in last year's provincial election,  says his term with the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary will last two years, and he will spend one year with the political science program. 

"They [students] have to see public service as an honourable profession," said Milloy.

"They have to see a role for them as part of the discussion whether they’re going to be working for government, whether they’re going to be in elected office or they’re going to try to influence government perhaps as part of an organization or perhaps just as a citizen."

He says he hopes to tackle the sentiment of mistrust many students and other members of society have developed about politicians and people who work in government.

"They have to see they have value in that process, that they have a role to play, and that it’s worth while," he added.

Faith and government

Milloy, who is a practising Roman Catholic, says he also hopes to highlight how members of faith communities can be active participants in helping the government find solutions to common problems such as poverty, climate change and caring for the elderly.

"We don’t find it strange to hear someone who grew up in poverty and is now an elected official saying ‘That experience shaped me and I want to work to make sure that we don’t have poverty,'” said Milloy, who is a practicing Catholic.

"Why is it strange for someone to say 'I come from a particular faith tradition where concern for the poor is a paramount teaching, and I want to take those values, I want to take that belief and motivation and translate that into public policy?'"

"I fear that the sort of creeping secular nature of government and politics is not allowing those individuals of faith a voice at the table," he added.

Milloy served as the MPP for Kitchener Centre from 2003 to 2014 and held various cabinet positions within the Liberal government including government house leader, minister of training, colleges and universities, minister of community and social services, and minister of research and innovation. 

His two year appointment with the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary will begin May 1st, and his term with Laurier's political science department will begin July 1.