John Parker, Lawyer, Politician and Government Affairs Consultant

 

John Parker is a Toronto lawyer, politician and government affairs consultant.  He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for York East from 1995-1999.   He served as Chair of the Standing Committee of the Office of the Ombudsman and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister Responsible for Native Affairs.   He has the distinction of being the last ever MPP for the provincial riding of York East.   John served in the government of Mike Harris and was familiar with the politics of the era with Dalton McGuinty as Opposition Leader and was a colleague of Doug Ford Sr.   

 

John served an eight year stint in Toronto City Council from 2006 to 2014 for Ward 26 which includes the neighbourhoods of Leaside and Flemingdon Park.   His term as Municipal Councillor bridged two Mayors:  David Miller and Rob Ford.   He served as Deputy Speaker of Toronto City Council from 2010 to 2014 and played an active role as Vice Chair of North York Community Council, Member of the Toronto Transit Commission, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Board member with the Toronto Community Housing Corporation.   He also served on Committees including Urban Planning, Works and Infrastructure, Budget and Audit.

  

John graduated from the University of Toronto and was a practising lawyer with the firm of Cappell Parker and as in house counsel for CIL Inc.   John helped found the Ontario Association of Former Parliamentarians which offers experience in support of parliamentary democracy in a non partisan manner and to foster good relationships among current members.  

He is currently Chairman of the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy a non partisan charitable organization that facilitates education, discussion and debate about Canada’s parliamentary democracy.   He served on the Board of the Leaside Hockey Rink and chaired the East York Committee of Adjustment and is intimately familiar with the Leaside community. 

 

He and his wife live in Leaside and are parents of five children.    With his background in elected politics at Queen’s Park and familiarity with many of the participants in this year’s Provincial Election, John is well placed to give us insights and perspectives on the Provincial Election of June 7, 2018 and what we might expect in the future.