1. Drew Barnes was born on May 21,1961 and is a Canadian politician who was elected in the 2012,2015 and 2019 Alberta general elections to represent the electoral district of Cypress-Medicine Hat in the 28th, 29th and 30th Alberta Legislatures, respectively.
Formerly a member of the Wildrose Party and its successor United Conservative Party, Barnes sat as an independent MLA from 2021 to 2023.
Drew Barnes has served on the Standing Committees of the Alberta Heritage Trust Fund, Public Accounts, Resource Stewardship, Families and Communities, Alberta Economic Future, and Private Bills.
Drew Barnes was born in Saskatchewan and moved to Medicine Hat with his family in 1974.
Drew Barnes studied at Camrose Lutheran College and the University of Alberta, where he completed his bachelor of commerce degree.
Drew Barnes owned and managed a successful real estate office in Medicine Hat and was a member of the Medicine Hat Real Estate Board from 1983 to 2009, and served as president in 1991.
An entrepreneur and businessman, Drew Barnes owns a number of businesses in Medicine Hat, which include a construction company, Belcore Homes, a storage facility and a property management company.
Drew Barnes owns commercial and residential property throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan and has irrigation and ranchland, on which he raises commercial beef, and rodeo stock.
An active member of the community, Drew Barnes has been involved in many organizations in Medicine Hat and area.
Drew Barnes has served as campaign chair and president of the United Way of Southeastern Alberta.
In late February 2015, Drew Barnes announced he would enter the race for leader of the Wildrose Party and finished second.
Drew Barnes had been vocal about his desire to unite the entities and came forward to endorse United Conservative Party Leadership candidate, Jason Kenney, on August 2,2017.
In March 2017, Drew Barnes donated $200.00 to a fund raiser for the research project and documentary initiated by John Robson regarding climate change.
Drew Barnes told Global News that at no time has he ever denied climate change, but said he is interested to learn what policy options Robson might propose.
In June 2020, Drew Barnes released a response to the Fair Deal Panel's recommendations in which he advocated for putting an independence referendum on the table.
Drew Barnes was one of three UCP MLA's named to the panel- The Fair Deal Panel in late 2019.
Drew Barnes indicated that he is not a separatist, but would be open to separation if he felt there was no other option.