John Barlow encourages Pincher Creek to vote early in by-election

John Barlow at Pincher Creek's Tim Hortons

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

John Barlow was in Pincher Creek yesterday, roaming the campaign trail.  Barlow is the Conservative Party of Canada candidate for the upcoming June 30 Macleod riding by-election.  I ran into him at the local Tim Hortons.

"We are really encouraging people to get out and vote early, because that is the day before Canada Day, so it might be a bit of a long weekend," he told me.  Barlow said that Pincher Creek residents can vote 7 days a week at the Foothills Community Church, which is located at 1200 Ken Thornton Boulevard in Pincher Creek, just south of Vista Village.  "We are really trying to encourage people to try and take advantage of that."


Responding to my queries, Barlow outlined his qualifications for the job.  "I think I bring a pretty good scope of experience.  I have been a journalist for 20 years (much of that time as the Associate Publisher and Editor of the Okotoks Western Wheel), all of it in this riding for the most part.  I know the issues here, and how they impact our families, and our businesses."

"For me, I grew up in a rural community.  I think it's important that the representative has roots here, raised a family here, has a business here, I think that's important."

Barlow said his campaign has been "Very well received".

"I guess the thing we get the most is that it is strong Conservative riding, you should win.  I don't want to take anything for granted.  I have been introducing myself to people, letting them know that we are out there, earning their vote, and I think that's what people want to see, and I think that's what the people of Macleod deserve, is a representative that is going to work hard."

"We have been strong, people are quite pleased with the leadership that we've had in the past with Ted Menzies and Grant Hill.  I think the Prime Minister's done a fantastic job, in terms of what he's done with our economy.  He has lowered taxes $3,400 for Canadian families over the last year.  A balanced budget next year, the only G7 country who can say that.  We have strong, stable leadership, and I think that's good."

"Macleod is such a big area, it's very diverse.  That's one of the reasons I'm enjoying this so much.  You're meeting somebody new everyday, obviously."

"We're 20 days into the campaign more or less, and we've hit over 2,000 homes we've door-knocked on so far.  Our goal was 10,000 so we're on-pace."

He said he's been in every community at least once so far, "but many of them multiple times".

I asked him if there were any consistent themes to concerns he might be hearing about on the campaign trail.  "The Temporary Foreign Workers program is significant.  Agriculture, the health of our rural communities is probably the one thread that's common throughout the riding.  There is some concern, some anxiety out there for the long term that the next generation is leaving the family farm, leaving the small communities, and they're not coming back.  To get them back we have to diversify, we have to get new businesses here.  We have to give them  a reason and an opportunity to stay."

"I want our small communities, our rural communities, to be a place where we can raise our families and work, play, and stay."

I asked if he had any predictions about the voter turnout for this by-election.  "I anticipate it to be lower, that's why I'm working as hard as I am, to raise awareness, let people know that this is going on.  Kids are getting out of school, summer is coming, (there are) so many other things going on that we might just get lost in the shuffle."

"We will have a general election in 2015, so this is almost a warm up, I guess for that.  This is a chance to introduce myself to people, let them see who I am.  Hopefully after June 30th I'll be their MP and I'll get back to work July 2."