He was born in Guelph, Ontario and had careers as a butcher, meat cutter, farmer, manufacturer and merchant.
[2][3] After an unsuccessful attempt to win the Wellington South riding in the 1953 federal election, Hales became a Guelph city councillor in 1955.
His Parliamentary career ended in May 1974 after he completed his term in the 29th Canadian Parliament, and Hales did not campaign in the 1974 election.
He repeatedly introduced a Private Member's Bill to create the Parliamentary Internship Programme until this was approved in 1969.
[1] Today, an annual award named in his honour is given by the Institute on Governance to the best essay by a Parliamentary intern.