Parker graduated from the University of Toronto, then Osgoode Hall Law School in 1980, and worked as a lawyer.

After moving to the Leaside area he became active in the community and was a founding member of the board of the Bessborough Child Care Centre.

The association's objectives include offering experience in support of parliamentary democracy in a non-partisan way and to foster good relations between current members.

[4] While he is widely considered to be a right-wing councillor, Parker has received poor performance grades from the editorial boards of traditionally conservative newspapers in Ontario.

He tallied the most votes in a three-way race between previous contender Dhanani and newcomer Jon Burnside.

The Toronto Sun supported Parker giving him the recommendation as "a hard-wired East Yorker, who brings a conservative ethic and is not easily panicked.