THE Conservative Party announced on Monday that it had officially nominated former BC Liberal MLA Dave Hayer as their candidate for MP in Fleetwood—Port Kells in the next federal election.
“I’m honoured to receive the support and trust of party members to represent the riding of Fleetwood—Port Kells for the Conservative Party in the next election,” said Hayer. “I’ve lived in the beautiful City of Surrey for nearly four decades and have seen first-hand the changes to our growing city. We need leadership at the federal level once again to secure the future and get the economy back on track post-pandemic.”
Hayer is a long-time community organizer and represented the provincial riding as the MLA for the areas of Fleetwood, Port Kells, Fraser Heights, Guildford, and Tynehead from 2001 until 2013. He was the Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism and Immigration from 2005 to 2011. After leaving his role as an MLA, Hayer joined CIBC and, later, Dominion Lending Centres, specializing in residential mortgages.
The incumbent MP for Fleetwood-Port Kells is the Liberals’ Ken Hardie who won the seat in 2015 (defeating Conservative candidate Nina Grewal) and again in 2019 (defeating Conservative candidate Shinder Purewal).
Hayer said: “I have had the great privilege to serve constituents in Fleetwood—Port Kells at the provincial level and I’m returning to public service to lend my experience to bring back jobs here, and get our debt back under control. Only [Conservative Leader] Erin O’Toole has a recovery plan that will secure the future, and I’m looking forward to being part of the team. It’s become clear in Fleetwood—Port Kells that we just can’t afford more of the same from the Trudeau Liberals – they’re a risk to the economy and simply don’t have a plan to get Canadians back to work.”
Hayer is the recipient of both the Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals for service to the community, and has been recognized for his contributions to the advancement of counter terrorism policies in Canada. Hayer has also been recognized by the Rotary Club of Surrey for his community service and has served on the boards of the Surrey Crime Prevention Society, the Surrey Board of Trade, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, as well as many others.
“Surrey is a vibrant and thriving city,” said Hayer. “We need a diversity of voices and perspectives at the table as we secure the future for all the residents and families that live here. I’m looking forward to having conversations with voters across this riding as we share Canada’s Recovery Plan that will help get our economy back on track.”
Hayer has called Surrey home since 1972. He lives with his wife, Isabelle, and raised his four children in Fleetwood.