Daniel Phillip Hays PC OC CD (April 24, 1939) is a Canadian politician born in Calgary, Alberta.
Hays attended Western Canada High School, and Strathcona-Tweedsmuir in Calgary, as well as, Appleby College in Oakville.
Following his articles, in 1966, with the Calgary-based firm Macleod Dixon, he was called to the Alberta Bar, and became known as a prominent lawyer.
Hays was appointed to the Senate of Canada by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau on April 29, 1984, representing Alberta.
Hays is also the past Chair of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group and the Canadian section of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum.
On February 1, 2006, he was named as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, replacing Noël Kinsella, a position he held until being succeeded by Céline Hervieux-Payette on January 18, 2007.
On April 29, 2000, Hays received Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure from the Emperor of Japan.
In 2007, Hays was appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper as member of the Queen's Privy Council of Canada.