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Drew  BarnesDrew  Barnes

Drew Barnes

Independent Contributor

drew@suncitysentinel.ca

Drew Barnes and his family are long time residents of Medicine Hat. Drew is involved in real estate, business, community organizations, sports and politics. Drew served in the past as president of the MH Real Estate board, president and campaign chair of the United Way, on the board for Opportunity Capital Corporation and 11 year MLA for the residents of Cypress-Medicine Hat. Drew stands for democratic reform, smaller govt, lower taxes and more individual and family choice.

Articles

August 31, 2024
Commentary

Whose economy is it, anyway?

More than 80 years later, US President Ronald Reagan noted that, “Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”
Questioning Solar Power Purchase Logic
August 29, 2024
Commentary

Questioning Solar Power Purchase Logic

The Medicine Hat mayor and council squabble has resulted in peak bad judgment as evidenced by a knee jerk reaction to once again invest millions of tax payer dollars and thousands of paid staff hours into a tax subsidized, financially uncertain solar farm.
No excuse for blatant cronyism
July 28, 2024
Commentary

No excuse for blatant cronyism

As voters we rightly expect preparation, but we certainly don’t expect politicians to personally control every aspect of every crisis. When life throws you a knuckleball, sometimes legging out a single is the best-case scenario. By and large, citizens are fair-minded in such circumstances. What voters can’t condone, however, is political cronyism.
The base is looking for something better
July 13, 2024
Politics

The base is looking for something better

The conservative movement is restless. In politics, summer is supposed to be the time of barbecues and glad-handing. But away from the carefully orchestrated events hosted by the most partisan insiders, the base is asking questions. Why are we paying so much for power and heat? Why are we having so many grid alerts threatening electricity brownouts? And when exactly did I sign up to support Net Zero decarbonization schemes?
Summer has arrived.  You can smell it in the air
July 1, 2024
Politics

Summer has arrived. You can smell it in the air

With it comes a chance to disconnect from the hustle and bustle, and take some time to recharge. It’s also time for campfires and deep thoughts. And for the politically inclined, it’s a chance to take a long hard look at the issues facing our families, our communities, our economy, and the province we love. With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of five things to think about this summer.
Union hubris presents opportunity for Provinces
May 31, 2024
Politics

Union hubris presents opportunity for Provinces

To call it shocking would be an understatement. Canada’s largest public sector unions have declared a “summer of discontent” over the idea that, starting Sept. 9th, employees will have to report to their assigned office three days a week, rather than two days a week.
Adult leadership needed
March 30, 2024
Community

Adult leadership needed

By now, most Medicine Hat residents are well aware of the recent infighting within City Council. Months of behind-the-scenes squabbling between management, elected officials, and the Mayor has boiled over, resulting in an ongoing series of embarrassing headlines and media stories.
Fair Deal progress stalled… again.
March 12, 2024
Politics

Fair Deal progress stalled… again.

Under the Constitution, every Canadian province has the right to collect its own taxes. Quebec, for example, has been collecting its own provincial taxes since 1954. Alberta collecting its own provincial taxes only makes sense. It creates jobs in Alberta for Albertans using tax money that would have been sent to and misused by Ottawa. As our province already collects its own provincial corporate income taxes, an administration system is already in place, minimizing the need for any new expenses
Alberta’s Groundhog Day budget promises more of the same, forever
March 1, 2024
Politics

Alberta’s Groundhog Day budget promises more of the same, forever

But nothing changed. The 2024 budget, released this week, calls for $73 billion in spending. When you include population growth and inflation, spending remains at NDP levels. Fed up with Jason Kenney’s Ontario-style big spending policies, Albertans expected change under Danielle Smith, who took the reins as Premier in October of 2022.
Province must take action on electricity reliability and affordability
January 16, 2024
Community

Province must take action on electricity reliability and affordability

The Government of Alberta has a responsibility ensure electricity service remains reliable, affordable, and safe. Brownouts and/or rotating blackouts are unacceptable, as are further increases in Albertans’ electric bills. A new approach is needed. Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Affordability and Utilities Nathan Neudorf must immediately and publicly present a plan to restore affordability and confidence in our electric system.
Peace and prosperity in 2024
January 3, 2024
Community

Peace and prosperity in 2024

For a vast country like ours, home to abundant natural resources and one of the world’s leading agricultural industries, continued population growth should come as great news. We have the tools and the skills to feed world markets for years to come.
Climate subsidies: Costs outweigh the benefits
December 12, 2023
Politics

Climate subsidies: Costs outweigh the benefits

The Ottawa Brain Trust announced a new methane credit trading system designed to limit the emissions of cattle burps. The idea here is to pressure ranchers into feeding more corn as well as potentially some chemical additives to reduce methane emissions.
All aboard the Net Zero express
November 29, 2023
Politics

All aboard the Net Zero express

"Sure, Smith talks tough when the cameras are on – but she’s more than happy to play ball with the federal government and the World Economic Forum the second you’re not looking."
Doomsday for the Middle Class
November 16, 2023
Community

Doomsday for the Middle Class

Carbon taxes and inflation are driving up the cost of everything, the housing crisis has made home ownership a distant dream for our kids, and the gap between rich and poor has never been larger. This might sound like some far off doomsday prediction. It’s not. In fact, it’s a simple restatement of headlines from this year, 2023. The doomsday scenario as we move towards to 2030 is much worse: The disappearance of Canada’s middle class.
Remember Them, But Also Embrace Their Legacy
November 11, 2023
Commentary

Remember Them, But Also Embrace Their Legacy

Many of us have a personal connection to Canada’s military history. For me, my Great Uncle was wounded in the First World War. My wife lost two people close to her family in the Second World War, including an uncle and her mother’s first husband. I’m sure your family lost loved ones as well. Remembering their courage and sacrifice is a duty we can all be proud to accept.
UCP in no danger of becoming Wildrose 2.0
November 6, 2023
Politics

UCP in no danger of becoming Wildrose 2.0

As a proud former Wildrose MLA, I can tell you for certain that the UCP is in no immediate danger of becoming Wildrose 2.0. But you probably won’t hear that from the CBC. It doesn’t fit their narrative.
Conservative values series:  Economic freedom requires economic responsibility
October 31, 2023
Politics

Conservative values series: Economic freedom requires economic responsibility

Economic freedom is not just a slogan. It is something that can be quantified and tracked, using a variety of indicators, including the size of government, the effectiveness of courts, freedom of trade, and regulatory efficiency. High economic freedom rankings are important because they are closely linked with the reduction of poverty, longer life expectancy, and improved quality of life. Historically speaking, Canadians have enjoyed relatively high levels of economic freedom, although our nation has been slipping of late according to two recent reports.
Your pension is none of Trudeau’s business
October 24, 2023
Politics

Your pension is none of Trudeau’s business

Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took his anti-Alberta condescension to a whole new level, lecturing the government of Alberta for consulting on the creation of an Alberta Pension Plan. Fresh off a Supreme Court ruling detailing how his government violated the Constitution of Canada with regard to its C-69 “no more pipelines” law, the Prime Minister seems determined to repeat his mistake. In his open letter to the Premier, Trudeau stated he has instructed his cabinet and officials to do “everything possible” to ensure the CPP remains intact.
October 12, 2023
Community

Equality of Opportunity is More Than a Legal Concept

As a group, most small-c conservatives agree on the importance of equality of opportunity. We believe that all people are born equal in the eyes of our creator. As such, we reject the concept of limiting any individual’s opportunities based solely on arbitrary factors like race or gender. As such, we strongly reject concepts like slavery, which denies freedom, or caste social systems, which prevent individuals from reaching their full potential.
October 10, 2023
Politics

Smaller Government is Non-Negotiable

Smaller government can’t just mean smaller than the NDP.
October 4, 2023
Politics

Conservative Values Series: The Conservative Free Market Identity Crisis

If it seems to you like the modern conservative movement is having an identity crisis, you’re not wrong. Nowhere is this more apparent than the waning commitment to free markets. Generally speaking, small-scale conservatives understand that free markets are the most efficient and the most effective way to grow our economy. The forces of supply and demand create competition, which helps ensure that the best goods and services are provided to consumers at the lowest possible price.
September 29, 2023
Commentary

Provincial pension plan: Let’s go already

Over the past two weeks, the hot topic in media (besides Trudeau’s latest scandals) has been the subject of creating a provincial pension plan in Alberta. So far, the debate has centered on financial details. On this front, the case of a provincial pension plan is clear. Albertans can immediately pay less in contributions and collect more in pension payments under a provincial plan.
September 20, 2023
Commentary

Reforming Government: Who is in Charge?

If you follow politics locally or nationally, you will notice a trend. The most hotly debated issues tend to fall along ideological and partisan fault lines. These tend to be the most divisive issues, and as a result they are the most likely to affect the outcome of elections. However, with all the attention paid to these hot button issues, there are many others that get ignored to the detriment of us all. One such issue, which cuts to the core competency of government, is the so-called chain of command.
September 7, 2023
Community

Dealing with the Root of Homelessness

Today homelessness, whether it is related to unemployment, under-employment, addictions, or mental health issues, continues to plague our city despite the best efforts of dozens of dedicated social workers and volunteers. We agree on one thing: Looking away isn’t going to solve this problem. But neither is fighting this cause with one hand tied behind our back.
September 3, 2023
Commentary

Will it be a City of Medicine Hat Bonus or Boondoggle?

Hatters deserve the final say on electricity profits. For most Albertans, today’s electricity costs are shocking. The question is, as the owners of their own electric company what do these rising costs mean for Medicine Hat residents? In the short term, the City stands to collect tens of millions in new revenue as prices soar.
August 15, 2023
Politics

A Fair Deal: The song that never ends

If you’re a parent or you’ve ever gone on a long car ride with small children, at some point you have likely heard the aptly titled, “Song that never ends.” For those who’ve forgotten it, allow me to refresh your memory. The lyrics go like this: “This is the song that never ends. It goes on and on, my friend! Some people started singing it not knowing what it was, And they will continue singing it forever just because…”
August 5, 2023
Politics

Choosing Our Future Our Way

There’s no nice way to say it: public faith in Canada’s democratic institutions is dying.
July 28, 2023
Politics

The Era of Big Government Must End

There’s an old saying: The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen. This has never been more apparent in Canada.