The Social Credit Party of Alberta fielded several candidates in the 2004 provincial election, but did not win any seats. Information about its candidates may be found here.
Barrett led the Salisbury high school parents' advisory group in the early 1990s, and was a supporter of the Youth News Network, a Montreal-based project which offered free satellite television receiving equipment and student-produced programming to high schools. The measure was controversial because children were required to watch two and a half minutes of commercials in the school setting (Edmonton Journal, 30 December 1992). He also led the Economics Society of Northern Alberta, in his which capacity he encouraged school boards and municipalities to reduce their expenditures (Edmonton Journal, 25 April 1993).
He campaigned for the Strathcona County council in 1995, and was defeated (Edmonton Journal, 18 October 1995). He later campaigned for the Elk Island School Division in 2001 (Edmonton Journal, 18 September 2001).
Barrett campaigned for the Canadian House of Commons in 2002, challenging Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper in a by-election held on May 13. He appeared on the ballot as an independent candidate, and said he was running to explore people's motives for voting. He received 428 votes (2.32%), finishing fourth.
Barrett was described as being 56 years old in the 2004 election. His biographical sketch in the Edmonton Journal indicates that he was a school trustee from 1995 to 2001, but this seems to be contradicted by other information (Edmonton Journal, 18 November 2004). He criticized the Ralph Klein government for both "slash and burn" service cuts and for subsequently "throwing money at the problems it created". Barrett supported a greater distribution of wealth, opposed same-sex marriage, and expressed a willingness to use the Notwithstanding Clause of the Canadian Constitution to protect provincial autonomy (Sherwood Park News, 27 October 2004 [1]).
Barrett is first vice-president of the Alberta Social Credit Party as of 2006.[2] In late 2005, he took part in merger negotiations with the Alberta Alliance Party (Edmonton Journal, 30 November 2005).
| Election | Division | Party | Votes | % | Place | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 municipal | Strathcona County, Ward 2 Council | - | 509 | 15.61 | 3/5 | Karen L. Bernard |
| 2001 municipal | Elk Island Public School Division, Sherwood Park | - | - | - | - | results not listed |
| federal by-election, May 13, 2002 | Calgary Southwest | Independent | 428 | 2.32 | 4/5 | Stephen Harper, Canadian Alliance |
| 2004 provincial | Sherwood Park | Social Credit | 474 | 4/6 | Iris Evans, Progressive Conservative | |
| municipal by-election, October 18, 2005 | Elk Island Public School Board, Sherwood Park | - | 140 | 17.26 | 4/4 | Lisa Gaylene Brower |
The 1995 results are taken from the Edmonton Journal, 18 September 2001, and the 2005 results are taken from the Edmonton Journal, 30 November 2005, A8.