Ernest Whitfield Stairs (10 April 1873 – 31 October 1941) was a Canadian farmer and politician.
He was born in Southampton, New Brunswick, a descendant of United Empire Loyalists who settled the area in 1784.
A successful farmer, Stairs was involved in a variety of public and social activities.
Encouraged to run in the 1935 New Brunswick general election by Liberal Party leader Allison Dysart, Stairs was elected to the 38th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly as the York County representative.
His daughter, Nelda (1905–1993), married Harry A. Corey who was elected the Liberal member of the Provincial Legislature for Stairs' York County riding in 1944.