Horwath won't say why Hamilton MPP was kicked out, leading to accusations of a 'double standard'

The provincial Liberals are accusingOntario NDP leader Andrea Horwath of a "double standard" when it comes to transparency, and sayvoters in HamiltonEast Stoney Creek deserve to know why Paul Miller was kicked out of the party.

But Horwath has refused to say why the four-termMPP was removed from caucus lastThursday.

"These are some of the most difficult decisions that leaders have to make," she told reporters on Monday, her first media availability since the NDP announced Miller would not be allowed to run for the NDP in the June 2 election.

Asked what led to the move, Horwathwould only say itwas something she took "very, very seriously."

"We do want to be a party that reflects the values of Ontarians and unfortunately today I can't share anything else," she added.

Horwath'sannouncement that Miller was being removed last week cited "clearly unacceptable" information uncovered during the candidate vetting process ahead of the election.

Miller did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

He previously told CBCthat he's aware of the information his former party leader wasreferringto, but said last week it was "totally fabricated and false."

"It's nothing criminal or anything like that," Millersaid, noting he'd been advised by a lawyer not to say more.

He compared being removed from the NDP to being put "in the penalty box" and vowed the party will be "embarrassed."

A senior official with the NDPconfirmed the information it received about Miller was after the 2018 election and is not a police matter.

Liberal house leader John Fraser said Monday the party owes its supporters, especially those who voted for Miller, more detail about what led to his ouster.

He pointed out Miller is not a new MPP, and has been a member of the party for years.

"If there is a confidentiality agreement that's in that process, then the leader of the opposition should be clear about that," Fraser said.

He also pointed out that Horwath has pushed for scrutiny around other elected members, describing it as a "double standard."

"She's tried to apply the rule of transparency to every government member or other member that got in trouble since I got elected," said Fraser.

"I do not understand why the leader of the opposition ... cannot apply the same standard the she applies to everybody else, to her own party and herself."