Mario Silva served as an elected representative from 1994 to 2011. From 1994 to 2004, he served on Toronto City Council and from 2004 to 2011 as a Member of Parliament for Davenport.
Mr. Silva graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts Degree specializing in Political Science (International Relations). He would later go on to study at the University of Sorbonne in Paris, France where he received his “Certificat de Langue Française.” He also received a Master's degree in International Human Rights Law from Oxford University in the United Kingdom. In 2007, the President of the French Republic bestowed him the title of Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honour (Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), the premier order of France and an award of great distinction.
While serving as a City of Toronto Councillor, Mr. Silva held a number of posts including Acting Mayor, Vice-Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission where he championed improved public transit. He was Chair of the Economic Development Committee where he spearheaded the development of the City’s first strategic economic plan identifying economic priorities, focused fiscal planning and long-term economic objectives for the municipality.
He was a member of the board of the Toronto Hydro Company, one of the largest distributors of electricity in North America. Mr. Silva served as President of the International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives; an agency comprised of national, regional and local governments addressing issues of sustainable development.
During his municipal public service career, Mr. Silva was also chosen as the Chair of Exhibition Place, Toronto’s multi-purpose waterfront site and home of the annual Canadian National Exhibition. As Chair, Mr. Silva helped to direct the renovation of the Ricoh Coliseum arena located at Exhibition Place as well as initiating the building of Toronto’s first wind turbine.
In 2004, having been elected as the Member of Parliament for Davenport Mr. Silva began a highly active parliamentary career. He was honoured by the Right Honourable Paul Martin, then Prime Minister of Canada, by being asked to move the Speech from the Throne which set out the Government’s agenda for the 38th Parliament’s first session. He has served on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources and Skills Development, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
As a parliamentarian Mr. Silva serves on the Canada-Portugal Parliamentary Association and the Canada-Argentina Parliamentary Association. He served as Chair of the Canada-Brazil Parliamentary Association and the Canada-Mexico Parliamentary association as well as Vice-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Interparliamentary Forum of the Americas. He is on the Board of the Canada-France Parliamentary Association and the Canada-Israel Parliamentary Committee.
Following the re-election to the House of Commons Mr. Silva served as Official Opposition Critic for Labour, Official Opposition Critic for the Treasury Board and Official Opposition Critic for Foreign Affairs in charge of the Americas. He has served as Vice-Chair of the Environment Committee and currently serves as Vice-Chair for the Subcommittee on International Human Rights. Mr. Silva has also served at the Chair of the Liberal Caucus Committee on Undocumented Workers. Mr. Silva was awarded the Order of Portugal (Commander) for his community work. He co-authored a book on immigrant experiences in Canada (“Fabric of a Nation”).
Mr. Silva has also published extensively in several leading legal journals, including:
- "Island of Distress: State Failure in Haiti", Florida Journal of International Law, Vol. 23, 2011
- "Kosovo’s Declaration of Independence and the Right to Self-Determination Under International Law", The Journal of Eurasia Law, Vol. 3(2), 2011, Duke University
- "Somalia: State Failure, Piracy, and the Challenges to International Law", Virginia Journal of International Law, Vol. 50 (3), 2010
- "Extraordinary Rendition: A Challenge to Canadian and United States Legal Obligations Under the Convention Against Torture", California Western International Law Journal, Vol. 39(2), 2009
Mr. Silva’s public service also extends beyond elected positions. This includes serving served on the boards of the Toronto Arts Council, the Canadian Opera Company, the National Ballet of Canada and the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival. He is on the board of Alliance Francaise, an organization he helped to reorganize and reinvigorate. Mr. Silva has also been a board member of Mount Sinai Hospital.
On December 15, 2011, the Government of Canada announced that former Member of Parliament Mario Silva will chair the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research (ITF) in 2013. The ITF is an international organization composed of 31 member countries devoted to Holocaust education, remembrance and research, both nationally and internationally. The ITF was established in 1998 and Canada became actively involved with the ITF in 2007 and a full member in 2009.