[1] She graduated with a degree in math and computer science from the University of Waterloo; while enrolled there, she worked as a co-op student with the Toronto Stock Exchange and IBM.
As one of 52 Reform MPs, she served as Chair of the party's Family Caucus [2] and critic on Human Rights and Status of Women.
While in office, Hayes joined many of her Reform colleagues in donating 10% of their salary to charity and opting out of the MP pension plan.
She had also stirred controversy for issuing a press release on her House of Commons letterhead calling on Liberal ministers attending the conference to reject "Chinese government policies that endorse the mandated one-child policy, the murder of inmates for body parts and the alleged consumption of human fetuses as health food."
Writing on her personal blog in 2011, Hayes apologized to those offended by the health food release, noting, "Thankfully, there has been no evidence of the truth of that story since that time."