Alberta MPP Drew Barnes said he will not seek the United Conservative Party’s next nomination for Cypress-Medicine Hat.
In a statement posted to social media on Wednesday morning, he wrote that he “will continue to represent his constituents as an independent.”
It is not yet known whether he will run as an independent in the southern Alberta riding in the May election. He has been an independent since being kicked out of the UCP caucus in 2021.
CBC News contacted Barnes for comment, but did not immediately respond.
In his statement, Barnes said he strongly supports Alberta’s sovereignty law. He also added that he supported Prime Minister Danielle Smith’s campaign promises to end vaccination mandates and “passport discrimination”.
Announcement-
“MP Drew Barnes will not seek the United Conservative Party nomination for Cypress-Medicine Hat. For now, the three-term MP says he will continue to represent his constituents as an independent.”#ableg #medhat pic.twitter.com/uX1A9y7Sog
Barnes was first elected to represent the constituency as a member of the Wildrose party in 2012. He was subsequently re-elected twice, in 2015 and 2019, by which time the Wildrose merged with the Progressive Conservative Party to form the UCP.
While Barnes had endorsed leadership candidate Jason Kenney, who later became prime minister, Barnes was booted from UCP following his persistent criticism of Kenney’s response to the pandemic.
“There is simply no place in our caucus for those who continually seek to divide our party and undermine government leadership, especially at this critical time for our province,” the whip said at the time. of the UCP caucus, Mike Ellis.
Before entering politics, Barnes, 61, worked in real estate and later opened several businesses in Medicine Hat, where he lives.
“Internet evangelist. Extreme communicator. Subtly charming alcohol aficionado. Typical tv geek.”