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Michael Barrett (Canadian politician)

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Michael Barrett
MP
Michael Barrett in 2024
Barrett in 2024
Member of Parliament
for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 3, 2018
Shadow Minister for Ethics and Accountable Government
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 13, 2022
LeaderPierre Poilievre
Personal details
Born1984 (age 41–42)
Arnprior, Ontario, Canada
PartyConservative

Michael Barrett MP (born 1984) is a Canadian politician, who was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in a by-election on December 3, 2018.[1] He represents the electoral district of Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. He won the riding again in the October 2019 federal election,[2] was re-elected in the September 2021 federal election,[3] and again in the April 28, 2025 federal election.[4]

Biography

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Barrett was born in Arnprior, Ontario in 1984,[5] graduated from Algonquin College in Ottawa,[6] and enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces, serving as a telecommunications lineman and attaining the rank of corporal.[7] Following his service in the army, he worked as a human resources manager. He has five children. Before his election to Parliament, he served as an elected councillor in Edwardsburgh/Cardinal for four years.[8]

In November 2019, Barrett was appointed Shadow Minister for Ethics.[9] In November 2021, Barrett was appointed Deputy Opposition House Leader and a Co-Chair of Question Period Planning.[10]

During a shadow cabinet shuffle in February 2022, Opposition Leader Candice Bergen named Barrett shadow minister for health, which saw him elected as vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Health.[11] Following the election of Pierre Poilievre as leader of the Conservative Party, Poilievre named Barrett Shadow Minister for Ethics and Accountable Government.[12] Barrett was named one of Brockville’s 40 Under 40 in 2022.[13]

Committees

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Barrett has served on several House of Commons committees. He has been a member of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, including its Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure. He has also served on the Standing Committees on Justice and Human Rights, Government Operations and Estimates, and Procedure and House Affairs. In the 44th Parliament, he served as Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Health and the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying.[14]

Parliamentary oversight and accountability work

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Barrett has participated in several parliamentary investigations related to ethics and government accountability. During the 2019 SNC-Lavalin affair, he questioned then Minister of Justice and Attorney General David Lametti before the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.[15] He later questioned former Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould during her appearance before the committee.[16]

In July 2020, Barrett questioned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during committee hearings related to the WE Charity controversy.[17][18]

Barrett later played a prominent role in parliamentary scrutiny of the ArriveCAN procurement program. In 2024, a GCStrategies co-founder was summoned to the Bar of the House of Commons and formally admonished in connection with the ArriveCAN study.[19]

In the 44th Parliament, Barrett sponsored Private Member's Bill C-405, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Parliament of Canada Act, which proposed amendments establishing mandatory penalties for perjury before Parliament and authorizing Parliament to impose financial penalties for contempt. The bill did not progress past the first reading.[20]

Electoral record

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2025 Canadian federal election: Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Michael Barrett 33,437 50.0 –0.48
Liberal Lorna Jean Edmonds 29,656 44.4 +19.19
New Democratic Paul Lancione 2,341 3.5 –11.45
Green Randi Ramdeen 781 1.2 –2.43
People's Hailey Simpson 596 0.9 –4.84
Total valid votes 66,811 99.5
Total rejected ballots 356 0.5
Turnout 67,167 74.2 +5.7
Eligible voters 90,557
Conservative hold Swing –9.84
Source: Elections Canada[21][22]
2021 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Barrett 29,950 50.5 +1.5
Liberal Roberta L. Abbott 14,935 25.2 -1.3
New Democratic Michelle Taylor 8,863 15.0 +1.0
People's Alex Cassell 3,394 5.7 +4.0
Green Lorraine Rekmans 2,134 3.6 -5.2
Total valid votes 59,276
Total rejected ballots 380
Turnout 59,656 68.48
Eligible voters 87,118
Source: Elections Canada[23]
2019 Canadian federal election: Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Michael Barrett 28,630 48.98 -8.85 $52,413.10
Liberal Josh Bennett 15,482 26.49 -9.32 $48,972.84
New Democratic Michelle Taylor 8,201 14.03 +11 $4,315.07
Green Lorraine Rekmans 5,152 8.81 +5.86 none listed
People's Evan Hindle 988 1.69 none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 58,453 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 479
Turnout 58,932 69.8
Eligible voters 84,442
Conservative hold Swing +0.24
Source: Elections Canada[24][25]
Canadian federal by-election, December 3, 2018: Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes
Death of Gord Brown
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Michael Barrett 16,865 57.8 +10.4
Liberal Mary Jean McFall 10,443 35.8 -4.8
New Democratic Michelle Taylor 883 3.0 -5.4
Green Lorraine Rekmans 859 2.9 -0.8
Independent John "The Engineer" Turmel 111 0.4 +0.4
Total valid votes/Expense limit 29,169 100.00
Total rejected ballots
Turnout 35.89%
Eligible voters
Conservative hold Swing +7.6

References

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  1. ^ "Federal Conservatives cruise to convincing victory in eastern Ontario byelection". National Post, December 3, 2018.
  2. ^ Baines, Tim (October 22, 2019). "Conservative Michael Barrett wins re-election in Leeds-Grenville". Ottawa Citizen.
  3. ^ "Barrett keeps riding solidly blue". The Brockville Recorder & Times. September 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "In Leeds-Grenville, Barrett keeps absolute majority". Apr 29, 2025.
  5. ^ "Profile". Library of Parliament.
  6. ^ "Barrett focusing on the economy". recorder. Archived from the original on 2025-01-11. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
  7. ^ "Profile". Library of Parliament.
  8. ^ Michael Barrett announces nomination for federal Conservatives. Smiths Falls Record News.
  9. ^ Zajac, Ronald (2019-11-29). "Barrett gets ethics post". Brockville Recorder & Times. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  10. ^ "Erin O'Toole announces Conservative Shadow Cabinet".
  11. ^ "Barrett named vice-chairman of Commons health committee". Brockville Recorder & Times. February 28, 2022.
  12. ^ "Pierre Poilievre announces Inflation-busting Conservative Shadow Cabinet".
  13. ^ "Michael Barrett, 38 | 40 Under 40 2022". Brockville YPN. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
  14. ^ "Michael Barrett – Roles". House of Commons of Canada.
  15. ^ "Evidence - JUST (42-1) - No. 132". House of Commons of Canada.
  16. ^ "Evidence - JUST (42-1) - No. 135". House of Commons of Canada.
  17. ^ "Trudeau testifies before committee on WE Charity affair". CBC News.
  18. ^ "Standing Committee on Finance – Evidence". House of Commons of Canada.
  19. ^ "ArriveCAN contractor summoned to bar of the House of Commons". CBC News.
  20. ^ "C-405 (44-1)". Parliament of Canada.
  21. ^ "Voter information service". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  22. ^ "Election Night Results - Electoral Districts". Elections Canada. 29 April 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  23. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  24. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  25. ^ "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
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