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The Honourable Daniel P. Hays, P.C., Chairman

Dan Hays has been with the firm on a continuous basis since his call to the Bar and has been active in different practice areas, most recently in corporate commercial and international operations. His status of partner changed to non-equity partner after he was appointed to the Senate of Canada by Prime Minister Trudeau in 1984. Following his retirement from the Senate on June 30, 2007 he was appointed Chairman of the firm succeeding Jack Marshall who served as Chairman from 2000 until July of 2007.

During his years of service in the Senate, Dan held a number of leadership positions and at different times served as chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, the Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources and the Special Committee on Senate Reform 2006.

As well, he served as President of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1994 to 1998. In 1999 he was appointed Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate, and in 2001, Prime Minister Chrétien appointed him Speaker of the Senate, a position he continued to hold under Prime Minister Martin. Following the 2006 federal general election, he was appointed Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. On January 22 he was made a Privy Councillor by Prime Minister Harper.

Dan Hays is proud to serve as an Honourary Colonel of the Kings Own Calgary Regiment. He is also honoured to have received from the Emperor of Japan the Grand Cordon of the Sacred Treasure for his work in promoting the Canada/Japan bi-lateral relationship, and to have been appointed Grand Officier of l'Ordre de la Pleiade on the recommendation of l'Association parlementaire de la francophonie.

Dan has been involved in the cattle industry since 1957 and continues to maintain a herd of 200 Hays Converter cows.






An extensive archive of speeches, discussion papers, reports, and record of Dan's activities dating back to 2001 can be accessed on web site archives.

Click here for a PDF of a recent paper entitled "Renewing the Senate of Canada: A Two-Phase Proposal."

Click here for a PDF of a paper entitled "The Modern Senate of Canada: A Study in Functional Adaptability."