Dave Hayer
| Dave Hayer MLA | |
|---|---|
| MLA for Surrey-Tynehead | |
| In office 2001–2013 | |
| Succeeded by | Amrik Virk |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1958 |
| Political party | BC Liberal |
| Residence | Surrey, British Columbia |
Dave Sukhdip Singh Hayer (Dave Hayer) was the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Surrey - Tynehead from May 2001 to May 2013, a politician from the province of British Columbia, Canada and a former Canadian newspaper Assistant Publisher of the Indo Canadian Times, and the son of slain journalist Tara Singh Hayer.
After defeating Doug McCallum,the Mayor of Surrey, for the BC Liberal party nomination, Hayer served as the first Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for the riding of Surrey-Tynehead.
Surrey-Tynehead includes Guildford, Fraser Heights, Fleetwood, Port Kells and Tynehead areas. Dave was first elected in the 2001 provincial general election and was re-elected in 2005 and 2009.
Dave announced on July 7, 2012 that he would not be seeking re-election as a Surrey MLA in the May 2013 Provincial Election. “Part of that decision was that if re-elected as MLA in May 2013, and then leave to run as an MP in 2015, it would have triggered an expensive by-election which would be costly for my constituents & that would have been the wrong thing to do for my community,” noted Dave
Dave has lived in Surrey since 1972.
Service in Provincial Government
Dave served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism and Immigration from 2005 -2011, where he worked closely with the Minister of Science and Universities and the Minister of Regional Economic and Skills Development, which was responsible for the Provincial Nominee Program.
Dave previously worked with the Attorney General of British Columbia, the Minister of Regional Economic and Skills Development and various Ministers of Citizens' Services and Ministers Responsible for Multiculturalism and the Public Affairs Bureau.
Dave has also served as Chair of the Surrey Caucus; Caucus Liaison for the Minister of State for Mental Health and Addictions Services; Caucus Liaison for the Minister of State for Intermediate, Long Term and Home Care and vice-chair of the Caucus Committee for Asian Economic Development.
Dave has been a member of the Cabinet Committee on Jobs & Skills Training, a member of the Cabinet Committee for Families First, a member of the Cabinet Committee on Environment and Resource Development for the Ministry of Skills Development and Labour and Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management.
Dave also served as a member of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services; member of the Select Standing Committee on Health; member of the Select Standing Committee on Education; member of the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills; member of the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs; member of the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations as well as the member of the Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act; and the Convener of the Select Standing Committee on Legislative Initiatives. He also served as Deputy Chair of Committee of Supply, as required throughout session and was a member of the Government Caucus Committee on Multiculturalism and Diversity; member of the Government Caucus Committee on Health and member of the Government Caucus Committee on Government Operations.
Awards and Recognition
In 2007, Dave received a prestigious award from the Government of India. The Pravasi Bharatia Samman Award is annually given to people of Indian heritage, no longer living in India, who have achieved excellence in their chosen fields of endeavor. Dave was presented with the award by the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, at a ceremony in New Delhi, India on January 9, 2007 for his "active leadership in the community, his contributions to public service and for his achievements in government".
At the presentation ceremony, Dave was described as a "great friend of India” for having been a strong voice in the Indo-Canadian community against terrorism and violence. He was the only Canadian among 15 people to receive the Pravasi Bharatia Samman Award that year and to date Dave was the second Canadian to be presented with this honour. Dave was voted “Most Seen Around Town”, Reader’s Choice Award in November 2013 by the Leader Newspaper for Surrey – North Delta
In 2008 Dave was selected by the Vancouver Sun as one of the 100 top most influential Canadians of South Asian descent making a difference in BC. Dave is also a recipient of the Rotary Club of Surrey's Paul Harris Fellow award. A Paul Harris Fellowship is "recognition of exceptional service" to the community and to the world.
In 2002 Dave was a recipient of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee medal to commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of Her Majesty’s Reign as Queen of Canada, and on February 10th 2013 Dave was presented with a Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Canadian Coalition Against Terror (C-CAT) for his contribution to the advancement of sound public policy on terrorism issues in Canada. This medal was created to mark the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the Throne to honour the significant achievements of Canadians who have dedicated themselves to service to their fellow citizens, their community and their country.
Previous Business Activities
Before his election to public office, Dave was a Surrey businessperson, Assistant Publisher of the Indo-Canadian Times, Kwantlen University College Governor, real estate agent, and worked in the restaurant, newspaper, construction, transportation and forestry industries. In addition, Dave has worked as a labourer in a steel factory and during his teenage years worked on farms, in greenhouses, in a grocery store and even delivered both the Sun and Province newspapers.
Dave also served as the General Manager of the Canadian Accounting Aggregates Public Accountants from 1983 to 1988, following which he joined the Indo-Canadian Times.
Education
Dave earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University (1979-1982) and completed Strategic Leadership Certificate from UBC Sauder School of Business, Executive Management (2013-2014). He also attended Douglas College from 1977 to 1979 and completed the Tax Course at BCIT.
Some of Dave's current involvements include memberships in: the Rotary Club of Surrey, Cloverdale Royal Canadian Legion, Surrey Board of Trade, the Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce, and Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce, Langley Salvation Army Gateway of Hope, Cloverdale Community Association, Cloverdale Rodeo & Exhibition Association. He is also a member of Simon Fraser University’s India Advisory Council which supports SFU's strategic initiatives in India and engagement with BC's Indo-Canadian diaspora.
Previous community and business involvements
Some previous community and business involvements include the Rotary Club of Surrey president (1999-2000); Surrey Community Crime Prevention Society president (1995-96); Surrey Chamber of Commerce president (1996-97); Surrey Board of Trade Governor since 1997; BC Chamber of Commerce District director (1999-2001) for Langley to Vancouver region; Vancouver Board of Trade Small Business Council member (1995-2000); Indo-Canadian Business Association vice-president (1993-2000); Ethnic Press Association of BC director & vice-president (1991-99); City of Surrey Economic Development Strategy Advisory Committee member (1995-2000); South Fraser Child Development Centre Christmas Party chair (1988-2001); and Surrey & White Rock Home Support Association director (94-95). As well, Dave created the Surrey Police Officer of the Year Awards and initiated the building of the Surrey Chamber of Commerce (now Surrey Board of Trade) Building.
Personal life
Dave Hayer has lived in Surrey since 1972. He married Isabelle Martinez Hayer in 1981. They have four children: Alexander, Sonia, Anthony and Katrina.