Peter was born in Toronto, Ontario.

After serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Peter owned and operated a successful electrical systems manufacturing and distribution company. 

He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1997, and has been re-elected four times. In Opposition, as Critic for Veterans Affairs, Peter was a tireless advocate for veterans and helped to solve disputes involving Hong Kong veterans' slave labour and veterans of the Merchant Navy. He was responsible for the veterans return to Ortona for Christmas of 1998 and the permanent life-sized bronze monument “The Price of Peace.” He also served as an Opposition Critic for National Defence, was appointed as a Member of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs (SCONDVA), and was elected Vice-Chairman of this committee. Further, in 2004 Peter was appointed Foreign Affairs Critic for the Caribbean. Following the 2006 election, Peter joined the House Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs and International Development. He also serves as the Joint Chair of the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament. In April 2006, he represented the Government on a special Foreign Affairs mission to Haiti.

Fighting for affordable rental housing has been an ongoing priority for Peter. He has served as the Opposition Critic for Homelessness and Affordable Housing, and has written two books: Housing Affordability: An Edmonton Concern and a National Challenge (2000) and Housing Affordability: Still An Edmonton Concern and a National Challenge (2008) in an attempt to shed light on this important issue. 

Peter also has a strong interest in democratic development and has served as an election monitor in Guyana, Haiti, Albania, Georgia (twice) and the Ukraine (four times).

Peter continues to advocate strongly for a strong and sustainable private sector rental housing industry. He and his wife Lorraine have been married for 35 years and have two daughters and two granddaughters.