Jennifer Hayes has emerged as the first female Chairperson of the Canadian Dairy Commission for a four-year term.
In January 2017, Hayes got her first appointment with the Canadian Dairy Commission as a Commissioner and has held the position for four years.
While announcing Hayes appointment, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau said: “I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Hayes as Chairperson of the Canadian Dairy Commission and proud that she will be the first woman to hold this position.
“A dairy farmer and leader in her Gaspé community, she has extensive governance experience, including as a commissioner of the organization. I am confident that she will continue to be an asset to the Commission and help the industry remain competitive, productive and innovative.”
Hayes is a dairy and beef farmer in Gaspé Peninsula, Québec and she is the third generation to farm at PineCrest Farms in Shigawake, a farm she co-owns with her father and uncle. She possesses extensive governance experience that she obtained through her participation with the L’Union des Producteurs Agricoles (UPA), protecting regional interests in dairy, beef and agricultural development.
It should be recalled that the Canadian government implemented an open, transparent and merit-based process for choosing Governor in Council appointees in 2016. Appointees perform a fundamental role in the democracy of Canada by serving on commissions, boards, Crown corporations, agencies and tribunals across Canada.
As a Crown corporation, the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) was founded in 1966, to coordinate both federal and provincial dairy policies.
