Maves worked as a legislative assistant to federal MP Ken Atkinson, who represented St. Catharines from 1988 to 1993.
In 2002, he supported Jim Flaherty's unsuccessful bid to replace Mike Harris as party leader.
[3] He was the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario's candidate for the Niagara Falls riding again in the 2007 provincial election but lost again to Craitor.
[4] He tried to regain the seat in a February 2014 by-election after Craitor retired but lost to NDP candidate Wayne Gates by 1,025 votes.
[8] Maves topped the polls, winning 13,695 votes, more than any other candidate for any municipal office in Niagara Falls.