Barry McFarland

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Barry McFarland
MLA for Little Bow
In office
March 5, 1992 – April 23, 2012
Preceded byRay Speaker
Succeeded byIan Donovan
Personal details
Born (1948-04-22) April 22, 1948 (age 73)
Carmangay, Alberta
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Spouse(s)Mary
Alma materSouthern Alberta Institute of Technology
Occupationfarmer

Barry McFarland (born April 22, 1948) is a Canadian politician and was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Little Bow as a Progressive Conservative.

Early life[]

McFarland was born and raised near Carmangay. He is a graduate of the business administration program at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary. After graduating, he worked in retail credit for Gulf Canada Resources Limited. Since 1972, McFarland and his wife Mary have operated a dryland grain farm near Carmangay.

Political career[]

McFarland was first elected in a 1992 by-election, when incumbent Raymond Speaker resigned to run for a federal seat. He won the by-election in a tight race, winning by only 262 votes over the Liberal candidate. It was the closest that the Liberals had come to winning the riding in 70 years. However, McFarland has never faced another election nearly that close.

He was elected to a sixth term in the 2008 provincial election, receiving 58 percent of the vote. He currently sits on the Standing Committee on the Economy and the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.

During his five previous terms in office, McFarland sat on numerous committees and chaired the Standing Policy Committee on Agriculture and Municipal Affairs; Alberta Agricultural Research Institute; Standing Policy Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development; Premier's Council in Support of Alberta Families; Prisoner Voting Committee; and Industrial Assessment Review Committee. During his fifth term, McFarland was Associate Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation.

Before entering provincial politics, McFarland was involved in municipal government. He was first elected as a councillor for the County of Vulcan in 1977. Between 1977 and 1992, McFarland served his community in a series of positions, including reeve, school trustee, chair of the Board of Education, and trustee and chair for the Little Bow Auxiliary Hospital.

McFarland was also involved with a number of municipal and agricultural committees, including the Municipal Planning Commission and the Carmangay Seed Cleaning Plant Association.

Personal life[]

McFarland lives outside Carmangay, Alberta, with his wife, Mary. The couple has four adult children.

He was inducted onto the Palliser Regional Schools Wall of Fame in 2007. His involvement with community groups has included the Carmangay Curling Club, Vulcan Atletika Track Club and local chapters of the Lions Club and the Royal Canadian Legion.[1]

Election results[]

Alberta provincial by-election, March 5, 1992: Little Bow
following the resignation of Raymond Speaker on January 3, 1992
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Barry McFarland 1,966 35.20 -44.34
Liberal Donna Graham 1,704 30.51 18.72
New Democratic Ruth Scalplock 601 10.76 2.09
Social Credit Al Strom 521 9.33
Alliance Larry Haller 399 7.14
Confederation of Regions Dean Oseen 394 7.06
Total 5,585
Rejected, spoiled and declined 18
Eligible electors / turnout 9,158 61.18%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -31.53
Source(s)
Alberta. Chief Electoral Officer (1992). The report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the Little Bow by-election held Thursday, March 5, 1992 (Report). Edmonton: Alberta Legislative Assembly, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer.
1993 Alberta general election results ( Little Bow ) Turnout 66.3%
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
  Progressive Conservative Barry McFarland 6,709 67.2%
Liberal Donna Graham 2,866 28.9%
  NDP Rod Lachmuth 382 3.8%
1997 Alberta general election results ( Little Bow ) Turnout 54.0%
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
  Progressive Conservative Barry McFarland 6,726 69.5%
Liberal Alida Hess 2.075 21.5%
  NDP Marko Hilgersom 868 9.0%
2001 Alberta general election results ( Little Bow ) Turnout 56.7%
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
  Progressive Conservative Barry McFarland 6,881 64.8%
Liberal Arij Langstraat 2,534 23.9%
  NDP Andrea Enes 319 3.0%
  Independent Jon Koch 885 8.3%
2004 Alberta general election: Little Bow
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Barry McFarland 4,899 54.24% -10.56%
Liberal Arij Langstraat 1,961 21.71% -2.15%
Alberta Alliance Jay Phin 857 9.49%
Social Credit Brian Cook 554 6.13%
Separation Grant Shaw 433 4.79%
New Democratic Hugh Logie 328 3.63% 0.63%
Total 9,032
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 55
Eligible electors / Turnout 19,835 45.81% -10.85%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -4.20%
2008 Alberta general election results ( Little Bow ) Turnout 43.8%
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
  Progressive Conservative Barry McFarland 5,144 58%
Liberal Everett Tanis 1,078 12%
Wildrose Alliance Kevin Kinahan 2,057 23%
Green Marie Read 266 3%
  NDP Duane Petluk 322 4%

References[]

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