She was the research coordinator for the Partnerships for Children and Families Project at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Fife was elected to represent Waterloo/Wilmot as a trustee for the Waterloo Region District School Board in 2003, and was re-elected in 2006 and 2010.

She came in third behind incumbent Progressive Conservative Elizabeth Witmer and Liberal candidate Louise Ervin.

[3] After Witmer resigned to take a position with the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board, Fife ran in a by-election on September 6, 2012 to replace her.

She was the party's critic for Jobs, Employment, Research and Innovation and the Chair for Standing Committee on Public Accounts.