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Serving Agriculture:
Canada's Ministers of Agriculture

Harry William Hays

Birthplace

Federal Constituency

Education

Professional Background

Political Affiliation

"I don't want to present myself as a country bumpkin or a hayseed, whatever political advantages that folksy image may have seemed to have... I don't believe you have to pose as a country cousin with barnyard on your overalls... to do a decent job as minister of agriculture."
-- Harry Hays

"No minister seems more inept inside Parliament and few get so much done outside it."
-- Walter Stewart, Toronto Star Weekly, 1965

Political Career

When Harry Hays sold his dairy herd and became mayor of Calgary in 1959 he said he had "made his fortune as a rancher and dairyman and needed something to do in retirement."

Hays admired Lester Pearson and was offered the chance to develop Liberal agriculture policy if he ran in the 1963 election. He became the only Liberal elected in Alberta or Saskatchewan that year. After he was appointed minister of agriculture, his frequent absences in Parliament were controversial--his time was precious as he continued to serve briefly as Calgary's mayor, travelled as Rotary Club district governor and refused to stop auctioneering.

Hays was a colourful politician, using poor grammar and swearing, then telling reporters who smoothed the "roughage" from his quotes that he was misquoted. Hays once described his goal: "We want a flush-toilet, not an outhouse, farm economy for Canada". He was popular in caucus, and would often invite rural backbenchers to review draft legislation and offer opinions. But he found Ottawa's slow pace "a burr under my saddle". He antagonized farmers' organizations by shooting down proposals he didn't like. He thought Canada was behind other countries in establishing prices to ensure a strong industry and said subsidies led to surpluses. He advocated a minimum farm income and a comprehensive marketing system for farmers.

In 1965, Hays was defeated as an MP. Albertans were unimpressed with Liberal policies on medicare, pensions and the new Canadian flag. Hays was appointed to the Senate in 1966 and continued to develop agriculture policy as member of the Senate agriculture committee.

Hays also co-chaired the special joint committee of the Senate and the House of Commons on the Constitution in 1980, and played a key role in developing the Charter of Rights and convincing his fellow senators to dilute their power to veto legislation. He died following heart surgery in 1982.

Departmental Developments

• Trade Minister Mitchell Sharp oversaw the Canadian Wheat Board during Hays' tenure.
• Computers were used to process milk production records after 1963.
• In 1964, the Economics Division became a branch, responsible for marketing and trade.
• Some experimental stations were closed and consolidated to improve research efficiency.

Accomplishments as Minister

After successful imports of Charolais cattle from the United States in 1951, Hays responded to farmers' demands for quality exotic breeds and developed a European importation plan. One hundred and thirteen Charolais cattle were imported directly into Canada from Europe in 1965, subject to strict quarantines and inspections. Simmental, Limousin, Main Anjou and Brown Swiss imports followed.

In return, Hays established Canada's showcase herds of dairy and beef breeds. The herds were kept on experimental farms; the Production and Marketing Branch managed and funded their activities. In 1965, a travelling exhibit of Canadian Holsteins was flown to France for a two-month tour of agricultural shows to promote two-way trade. Similar European and North American tours were organized in subsequent years.

Hays' Dairy Commission Act (1966) created a regulatory agency to purchase, process, ship, store and dispose of product; make payments to stabilize prices; investigate production, processing and marketing; and promote the use of dairy products and improvements in their quality and variety. However, Hays believed farmers needed to expand and diversify because "price alone cannot correct the economic difficulties of...small producers".

The Farm Machinery Syndicate Credit Act (1964) offered groups of farmers loans to purchase machinery on a co-operative basis and expanded the size of loans available.

The federal government revised its support for farm fairs and exhibitions in 1965 and created controversial new product classifications emphasizing utility over appearances.

Hays also established the Veterinary College at Saskatoon, expanded the crop insurance system and originated a national farm accounting system.

Worth Noting

• Hays introduced cattle exports by air, shipped purebred cattle to the United Kingdom and Mexico for the first time, and opened new markets as North America's biggest livestock exporter in the 1950s. He once had Canada's largest Holstein herd and held numerous world records.
• He also developed Hays Converter beef cattle, the first new breed recognized for registry in Canada.
• Hays regretted his lack of formal education and dreamed of running the experimental farm at Lethbridge. When he became minister, his wife joked that he now ran all 38.
• Douglas Harkness (also from Calgary) was a good friend of Hays. But Alvin Hamilton was a bitter political opponent. Hamilton's image, according to Hays, was inflated "to the dimensions of a latter-day saint of the back forty". Hays once challenged Hamilton to go to the Central Experimental Farm to prove he could milk cows--but the milking contest never occurred, much to the media's chagrin.
• Calgary's federal building on Fourth Avenue SE is named after Hays.
• Hays' son Dan is currently a Liberal senator for Alberta.