Farmer, MP (1979), MP (1980-1984), MP (1984-1988), MP (1988-1993).
Born at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on 21 April 1936, son of Roy Mayer (?-?) and Anna Viola Anderson (1906-1990), he lived at Hawarden, Saskatchewan until 1944 when his family moved to Saskatoon. Subsequently, he received a BSc degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Saskatchewan. In 1966, he purchased a farm south of Carberry.
He entered politics in 1979, being elected as a Progressive Conservative for the Portage-Marquette constituency at the federal election and was re-elected in 1980, 1984, and 1988. During his time in office, he served as Minister of Western Economic Diversification (1989-1993) and Minister of Agriculture (1993). He was defeated by a Reform candidate in 1993 and did not run in the 1997 federal election. In recognition of his community service, he received a Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002) and was inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame (2005).
He was married twice, first in 1963 to Elaine Van Cleave (1940-2024) with whom he had three daughters before they separated. He later married Anita Wyndels.
He died at the St. Boniface Hospital on 29 April 2025.
Obituary [Anna Viola Mayer], Winnipeg Free Press, 20 July 1990, page 46.
The Hon. Charles James Mayer, P.C., M.P., ParlInfo.
Obituary [Elaine Mayer], Dignity Memorial.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 3 May 2025.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 4 May 2025
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