A former Surrey MLA is hoping to represent Cloverdale and the City of 91原创 in Ottawa in two years鈥� time.
Dave Hayer, who represented Surrey-Tynehead for 12 years, from 2001-13, announced on Monday evening that he will seek the Conservative nomination for the proposed new riding of Cloverdale-West 91原创, ahead of the next federal election in October, 2015.
Hayer told a packed room at the Cloverdale Recreation Centre that he has been approached many times over the years to seek a seat as a member of Parliament.
鈥淚 have considered those suggestions carefully and, after having discussed this with family, friends and community members, have decided that I will pursue nomination as a candidate in the new proposed Cloverdale 鈥� West 91原创 riding,鈥� he said.
The crowd included former Surrey MPs Dona Cadman and Benno Friesen.
Hayer鈥檚 run has also been endorsed by outgoing City of 91原创 Mayor, Peter Fassbender, the new Liberal MLA for Surrey-Fleetwood.
Hayer announced in July, 2012 that he wouldn鈥檛 run in the provincial election held last month.
鈥淧art of that decision was that if (I was) re-elected as MLA in May 2013, and then left to run as an MP in 2015, I would have triggered an expensive byelection which would be costly for my constituents.
鈥淚 believe this would have been the wrong thing to do for my community,鈥� he said.
Hayer decided to make the announcement more than two years ahead of the next election, he said, because he wants to use the time to build relationships and help increase Conservative Party membership in the new riding.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance to get to know the community,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a large riding. I wanted to make sure I have enough time.鈥�
91原创 City is a very important party of that community, Hayer added, saying residents can expect to see him at many events in the coming months.
鈥�91原创 is an area I look forward to getting to know better.鈥�
Although he served Surrey-Tynehead as MLA, Hayer does have connections to 91原创, he said, including having sat on the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Board of Governors and serving as District Director of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce 91原创-Vancouver Region.
Hayer鈥檚 jump from provincial to federal politics comes not only at the urging of friends and constituents, but from his own desire to work for a justice system that better serves victims and their families, he explained.
鈥淥ne of the closest issues to my heart is a fair justice system,鈥� he said.
Hayer鈥檚 father, Tara Singh Hayer, a journalist, was murdered in his Surrey home in 1998, 10 years after a failed attempt on his life that left him in a wheelchair.
After his father鈥檚 death, Hayer focused on justice reform, entering provincial politics in 2001.
鈥淭here wasn鈥檛 much we could do provincially, although we did what we could,鈥� he said.
A married father of four, Hayer has two daughters and two sons, ranging in age from 23 to 29 years old.
If elected, Hayer said, he will continue his practice of hosting coffee meetings once a month, where constituents are welcome to drop by without an appointment to discuss any concerns they might have.
鈥淭here is much that I can bring to the federal government in terms of issues that are on the minds of British Columbians,鈥� said Hayer.
鈥淒uring my three terms as MLA for Surrey-Tynehead, I listened and worked on constituent issues that encompassed all three levels of government and also had experience in dealing with many issues including the justice system, a strong economy, jobs, increasing international trade and seniors issues.鈥�
Anyone who would like to speak with Hayer may contact him at 604-833-4000 or dave@davehayer.ca.
