Fryers, Clifford H.

Clifford H. Fryers was born in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan in 1947. He attended the University of Saskatchewan, earning a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in Marketing and a minor in Corporate Finance in 1970, and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1971. Upon leaving university Mr. Fryers worked in the Tax Litigation department of the Department of Justice in Ottawa (1971-1977), and as General Tax Counsel for Mobil Oil Canada, Ltd. (1977-1980). In 1980 he joined the Calgary office of the Milner Fenerty law firm. His law practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, resource taxation, international taxation and negotiating with fiscal authorities, including tax litigation. As a partner at Milner Fenerty, Mr. Fryers also served for five years as Chairman of the Business Development Department and three years as the Managing Partner of the firm's Calgary office. He maintained his law practice until 1997, when he took the position of Chief of Staff to Preston Manning in the Leader of the Opposition's office in Ottawa. Mr. Fryers has been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the White Iron Group of Companies since 1997. In 2003 he also serves on the Board of Directors of Canscot Resources, Ltd., an oil and gas company, and of Enmax, the Calgary-based electricity company.

Mr. Fryers became involved with the Western Reform Association at its inception in the late 1980s. When the Reform Party emerged from the Association's Western Assembly on Canada's Economic and Political Future in 1987, he became President and CEO of Reform Fund Canada, the business agent of the Party. Mr. Fryers also served as Chairman of the National Strategy Committee since its inception. From 1991 until 1994 he served as the Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of the Reform Party. During this time, he was nominated for and accepted a chair on the Party's Executive Council. Mr. Fryers served as Chairman of the Reform Party's campaign activities during the 1993 and the 1997 federal elections as well as organizing the campaigns during the 1992 Charlottetown Referendum and the 1995 Quebec Separation Referendum. In June of 1997, Mr. Fryers became Preston Manning's Chief of Staff and served in this capacity until Stockwell Day won the Canadian Alliance leadership race in July 2000. Concurrent with his Chief of Staff duties, he chaired the United Alternative Steering Committee and participated in the organization of the 1999 and 2000 United Alternative conventions. These conventions led to the creation of the Canadian Alliance Party in March of 2000. Mr. Fryers resigned his seat on the Executive Council of the Canadian Alliance in 2001. Throughout his term with the Reform Party and the Canadian Alliance Party, Mr. Fryers was a respected speaker, organizer and leader.