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38th Parliament Members
at dissolution on April 14, 2009

Photo of MLA

MLA: Dave S. Hayer 

Surrey-Tynehead


Elected: 2001, 2005

BRITISH COLUMBIA LIBERAL PARTY

Dave S. Hayer was first elected to the BC Legislature as MLA for the riding of Surrey-Tynehead in the 2001 provincial general election and was re-elected in 2005.

Dave was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism and Immigration on June 16, 2005. In that role, he works closely with Hon. Murray Coell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development who is responsible for the Provincial Nominee Program. He also works with Hon. Wally Oppal, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism, on a variety of immigration issues. Previously he worked with the Minister Economic Development. Dave also is a member of the Select Standing Committee on Health, the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, the Select Standing Committee on Legislative Issues and the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills.

In January 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 endeavour. Dave was presented with the award 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 and has been a strong voice in the Indo-Canadian community against terrorism and violence". He was the only Canadian among 15 people from other countries to be given the Pravasi Bharatia Samman Award this year. Dave is only the second Canadian to be presented with this honour. Dave received his award from Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, President of India, at a ceremony in New Delhi, India on January 9, 2007. 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.

Previously, Dave served as Chair of Surrey Caucus; Caucus Liaison for the Minister of State for Mental Health and Addictions Services; vice-chair of the Caucus Committee for Asian Economic Development; member of the Government Caucus Committee on Multiculturalism & Diversity and Government Caucus Committee on Health; member of the Cabinet Committee on Environment and Resource Development for the Ministry of Skills Development and Labour and Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management; member of the Select Standing Committees on Finance and Government Services, Education, and Aboriginal Affairs; the Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act; member of the Government Caucus Committee on Government Operations, Select Standing Committee member on Crown Corporations and Caucus Liaison for the Minister of State for Intermediate, Long Term and Home Care.

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 he worked in the newspaper and forestry industries and as labourer in a steel factory. Dave earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University in 1982 and from 1981 to 1982 he completed taxation courses at the University of British Columbia. Dave served as the General Manager of the Canadian Accounting Aggregates Public Accountants from 1983 to 1988 following which he joined the Indo-Canadian Times.

Dave's current involvements include: member of the Rotary Club of Surrey, Surrey Chamber of Commerce and the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce. Some previous business involvements include: BC Chamber of Commerce director (1999-2001); Surrey Chamber of Commerce president (1996-97), vice-president (1994-96), director (1992-94); Vancouver Board of Trade Small Business Council member (1995-2000); Indo-Canadian Business Association vice-president (1993-2000); Ethnic Press Association of BC vice-president (1994-99), treasurer/director (1991-99); and, City of Surrey Economic Development Strategy Advisory Committee member (1995-2000).

Some of Dave's former community involvements include: Rotary Club of Surrey president (1999-2000), vice-president (1996-98); Surrey Community Crime Prevention Society president (1995-96); South Fraser Child Development Centre Christmas Party chair (1988-2001); and Surrey & White Rock Home Support Association director (94-95). As well, Dave initiated the Surrey Police Officer of the Year Awards and initiated the building of the Surrey Chamber of Commerce Building.

Born in 1958 in India, Dave moved to Surrey in 1972 and into the Surrey-Tynehead constituency in 1991. He and Isabelle Martinez, who married in 1981, have four children. Dave enjoys working on community projects, reading, swimming and walking.