Mark Warner (Canadian politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Warner
Personal details
Born	1964 Trinidad and Tobago
Residences	Toronto, Ontario

Mark A. A. Warner (born in 1964) is a Canadian lawyer. He specializes in international trade and competition law. This means he helps countries and businesses understand rules for trading with each other. He also works on laws that prevent big companies from unfairly controlling markets. Before this, he worked for a large law firm in Toronto and for the Government of Ontario.

In 2007, Mark Warner was chosen to run for the Conservative Party of Canada. He wanted to become a Member of Parliament for the Toronto Centre area. However, the party later decided to choose someone else. This happened because of different ideas between his campaign and the national party on social and city issues.

Mark Warner's Journey

Early Life and Education

Mark Warner was born in 1964 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. When he was four years old, his family moved to Canada in 1968. He spent his early childhood in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He went to the Halifax Grammar School there. Later, his family moved to North Bay and then Pickering, both in Ontario.

Mark loved learning and went to several universities. He earned a degree in Economics and Political Science from McGill University in Montreal. Then, he got a master's degree in economics from the University of Toronto. He later studied law at Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. He also earned another law degree in International & Comparative Law from Georgetown University Law Centre. He is allowed to practice law in Ontario, Canada, and New York State. He also used to be a member of the Brussels Bar in Belgium.

Standing Up for What's Right

While at McGill University, Mark was very active. He was part of the university's senate, which helps make decisions. He also helped start the Black Students Network. Mark was a strong supporter of the anti-apartheid movement. This movement worked to end unfair racial separation in South Africa. He successfully campaigned for McGill and the University of Toronto to stop investing in companies that did business in South Africa during that time. For his leadership in this campaign, he received the Scarlet Key Society award from McGill in 1986.

A Career in Law and Trade

Mark Warner has written a book called Canadian Law and Practice of International Trade. He wrote it with others, including Bill Graham, a former Member of Parliament. From 1996 to 2000, Mark worked as a lawyer for the Trade Directorate of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. The OECD is a group that helps governments work together on economic issues.

Mark has practiced law in many different cities around the world. These include Toronto, Washington, D.C., New York City, and Brussels. He has also taught law courses at universities in the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, and Uganda. Before joining the OECD, he was a professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law. He taught courses on corporate law and trade law there.

Mark has also helped solve disputes about domain names for ICANN. These are like website addresses. In 2000, he made an important decision in a case that helped define "reverse domain hijacking." This is when someone tries to unfairly take a domain name from its rightful owner. In 2009 and 2010, he helped the Government of Ontario with the financial problems of big car companies like General Motors and Chrysler. He helped with how their operations in Ontario were reorganized.

Mark often speaks at public events about trade and competition rules. He is also asked by news organizations to share his thoughts on current economic events. You might see his comments in newspapers like the Financial Times and the Toronto Star.

Helping the Community

Mark Warner lives in the Cabbagetown neighborhood of Toronto. He is currently on the board of directors for the Cabbagetown Youth Centre. This center helps young people in the community. He also used to be on the board of directors for the Regent Park Community Health Centre, which provides health services to the community.