Affordability is one of the top issues the Conservative candidate for the Foothills riding says he is hearing about when talking to those in the community.
John Barlow says this is not a new topic to hear about as over the last few years different age groups have shared their concerns, with youth worried about never having the opportunity to own a home, young families struggling to put food on the table and seniors seeing their kids move back home to live in their basement.
“Our focus over the past two years has been to offer Canadians a clear alternative focusing on five key principles: eliminating the carbon tax, building homes families can afford, get Canada’s fiscal house in order and cracking down on violent crime and drugs,” Barlow states. “We will also cut income taxes by 15 per cent, eliminate the GST and development charges on new homes, and seniors can earn up to $34,000 tax-free without clawbacks on their CPP, OAS or GIS. These are concrete ways to make life more affordable.”
Barlow says it is important for the government to address the root causes when it comes to cost of living concerns, including high taxes along with a supply and demand imbalance for homes in the country, with there being more people than places for people to live. He explains if the Conservatives were voted into power they would cut the income tax by 15 per cent and sell thousands of acres of federal land to build homes, while also eliminating the GST, and development charges on new homes, along with both the consumer and industrial carbon tax.
“Mark Carney wants to keep the industrial carbon tax, which will drive up costs on everything we buy. They also just announced $130 billion in new inflationary spending and a $62 billion deficit – higher than even Justin Trudeau proposed. Food inflation in Canada is the highest in the OECD and 36 per cent higher than the United States. Eliminating the carbon tax on farmers, truckers, processors and retailers will make food more affordable.”
“We will also eliminate the ban on plastic food packing which increases the cost of fresh produce by 34 per cent and increases food waste by 50 per cent.”
Another key topic that has been brought up throughout the election is the ongoing tariff situation with both the United States and China. Barlow says the best way to address these challenges is from a position of strength; but for that to happen the newly elected government will need to “get our financial house in order and increased productivity here at home to become more self-sufficient.” He expanded the Conservative party’s plan for this is to cut wasteful spending, build a strong economy through Canadian resources, end the country’s reliance on the United States and invest in Canada’s military.
“We strongly oppose China’s tariffs on canola, pork and seafood, and we must diversify our trading markets. A Conservative government will stand up to bad actors who attack our farmers and ranchers. We will rebuild our relationships with our trading partners and ensure Canadian farmers are a priority.”
“Agriculture deserves a seat at the Cabinet table and it will have a position of influence within a Conservative government. A Conservative government will ensure food production and affordability are priorities,” he says. “We will retool the CFIA and PMRA to be partners with farmers, not adversaries. We must eliminate interprovincial trade barriers so farmers can grow their markets at home and abroad… A Conservative government will ensure we have a competitive regulatory and tax regime, access labour, diversify trade markets, a reliable supply chain, tools to increase productivity so farmers are economically viable and environmentally sustainable.”
Barlow was first elected as MP for the then Macleod riding in 2014, he then elected MP for the Foothills riding in 2015 and has been re-elected to the position in 2019 and 2021. He has served as Shadow Minister of Agriculture and Agriculture-food and Shadow Minister for Interprovincial Trade as well as Labour and Workforce Development, while also serving as the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture.
The politician is based out of High River and spent over 20 years as a journalist in Southern Alberta.
Barlow is running against People’s Party of Canada candidate Paul O’Halloran, Green Party candidate Emma Hoberg, Liberal Party candidate John Bruinsma and New Democratic Party candidate Katie Aurora.
