Charles Mayer (politician)

Charles James Mayer, was a Canadian businessman and federal Minister of Agriculture.

Life and career

Mayer was educated at the University of Saskatchewan and became an agrologist and farmer. Politically active, Mayer was president of the Manitoba Beef Growers Association before entering the House of Commons of Canada as a Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament in 1979. He represented the Manitoba riding of Portage—Marquette until his defeat in 1993.
He served in the Brian Mulroney government as Minister of State for the Canadian Wheat Board until 1987 and then was Minister of State for Grains and Oilseeds until 1993, also serving as Minister of Western Economic Diversification from 1989. In early 1993, he was promoted to Minister of Agriculture and was retained in that position during the short-lived government of Mulroney's successor, Kim Campbell.
He endorsed Lawrence Toet when he attempted to be the Conservative candidate in the 2023 Portage—Lisgar federal by-election.
Mayer died at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg on 29 April 2025, at the age of 89.