About Toby Barrett
First elected to the Ontario Legislature in June 1995, Toby was re-elected in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011. Toby captured 61 per cent of the vote in both the 2007 and 2011 provincial elections. He was succeeded by Independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady in 2022.
Over the years, Toby has chaired a number of legislative committees and served in portfolios focussing on agriculture, environment, natural resources and social services. Currently, Toby is the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Toby is a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills. In the past, he was a Finance Committee member and was chairman of the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly. Barrett was the first Conservative to be elected Caucus Chair after the 2007 election.
Toby has a Masters of Science degree from the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) and a degree in Economics from the University of Guelph.
A former teacher of high school Agriculture and Environmental Science, Toby is a partner in his family farm near Port Dover, and for 20 years worked for the Ontario Addiction Research Foundation.
In 1993, Toby was awarded the Canada 125 medal for outstanding community service.
Toby is a life-long resident of Haldimand-Norfolk. He and his wife Cari live on the family farm. Before starting his career, Toby traveled in over 50 countries and has an abiding interest in antique cars, trucks and tractors.