Photo: Joseph Fred Spalding · Public domainJohn Barlow took Foothills in 2021 by 37,339 votes, more than the margin in 98% of ridings
In the census’s list of municipalities, Crowsnest Pass is a specialized municipality. In Alberta, councils aren’t on any open list we can use, so Crowsnest Pass’ mayor isn’t named. John Barlow (Conservative Party of Canada) is the MP for Foothills, the riding (a federal electoral district, which elects one MP) that takes in Crowsnest Pass. No provincial riding is named for Crowsnest Pass: the only boundary file for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta forbids commercial reuse.
What stands out in how Crowsnest Pass is governed
A safe federal seat
The 2021 winner in Foothills finished 58.2 points ahead of the runner-up (New Democratic Party), a wider lead than in 98% of Canada’s 338 ridings. How Crowsnest Pass has voted ↓
High federal turnout
In 2021, Foothills voted in greater numbers than 97% of the ridings. The 2021 turnout ↓
Compared with the province’s municipalities of 1,000+ residents (2021 Census; MAMH, MMAH and Statistics Canada).
Three governments, and who does what
Crowsnest Pass, a specialized municipality in Alberta, shares the work with the province and Ottawa.
Local services, by-laws and property tax.
Schools, health care, highways, municipal law.
assembly.ab.ca ↗Passports, pensions, EI, defence, immigration.
ourcommons.ca ↗Who to ask
Green: municipal. Gold: provincial. Grey: federal.
The census places Crowsnest Pass in Division No. 15, a division that governs nothing; no county council sits above the town’s.
From the council table to Ottawa
Every elected tier that speaks for Crowsnest Pass, from the most recent elections.
- 1Crowsnest Pass councilSpecialized municipality
- 2Legislative Assembly of Alberta–
- 3House of CommonsFoothills
Party colours are neutral on purpose: they tell parties apart and aren’t the parties’ own. MPs: Wikidata (CC0), 45th Parliament statements, read 7 November 2026; ridings: 2023 Representation Order, Statistics Canada
When Crowsnest Pass votes
The last and next general elections at each level; a by-election can come in between.
| Election | Last | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Crowsnest Pass council | 20 October 2025 | 15 October 2029 |
| Legislative Assembly of Alberta | 29 May 2023 | – |
| House of Commons | 28 April 2025 | – |
Why not 2025? Elections Canada publishes those counts under non-commercial terms, and its open data stop at the 2021 election. The last general elections came on 29 May 2023 for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and on 28 April 2025 for Parliament. The council elected on 20 October 2025 serves until 15 October 2029, when Crowsnest Pass council is chosen again. It is the third Monday in October every four years, as the Local Authorities Election Act provides.
Election dates: the legislatures, MMAH and MAMH
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta: riding not placed
Provinces and territories run schools, health care and municipal law; each riding elects one MLA.
Find your MLA on the legislature’s site
assembly.ab.ca ↗Legislatures: their own member pages
John Barlow represents Foothills in Ottawa
Each riding elects one MP to the House of Commons; the general election of 28 April 2025 chose the 45th Parliament.
Foothills · Conservative Party of Canada · first elected 2014
en.wikipedia.org ↗- Conservative Party of Canada33
- Liberal Party of Canada3
- New Democratic Party1
As Wikidata records them.
With John Barlow, the Conservative Party of Canada counts 33 of the 37 MPs elected in Alberta.
The MP’s record
Elections Canada’s transposition of the 2021 vote onto today’s Foothills puts the Conservative Party of Canada first at 68%; John Barlow held it for the party in 2025. First elected in 2014, John Barlow is serving the 5th term of a Commons career.
MPs: Wikidata (CC0), 45th Parliament statements, read 7 November 2026; ridings: 2023 Representation Order, Statistics Canada · MPs’ records: Wikidata (CC0), positions held and party memberships, read 8 November 2026
In 2021, Foothills re-elected John Barlow of the Conservative Party of Canada
Foothills as it stood from 2013: the 2019 and 2021 counts, before the riding was redrawn for 2025.
In 2021, Foothills went to John Barlow (Conservative Party of Canada) on 69%; Michelle Traxel (New Democratic Party) finished 37,339 votes behind. John Barlow already held it after the 2019 election, won with 82%.
All 6 candidates in Foothills, 2021
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Barlow | Conservative Party of Canada | 44,456 | 69.2% |
| Michelle Traxel | New Democratic Party | 7,117 | 11.1% |
| Daniel Hunter | People's Party of Canada | 5,111 | 8.0% |
| Paula Shimp | Liberal Party of Canada | 4,441 | 6.9% |
| Josh Wylie | Maverick Party | 2,289 | 3.6% |
| Brett Rogers | Green Party of Canada | 802 | 1.3% |
Federal results: Elections Canada, 43rd and 44th general elections and the 44th’s transposition to the 2023 ridings, via open.canada.ca. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Crowsnest Pass council spends more per resident than most
The 2024 financial return: spending by service and revenue by source, per resident, compared only with Alberta’s municipalities.
Spending per resident by service, 2024
What pays for it
Shares of revenue, town and province.
Long-term debt at Crowsnest Pass council stood at $14.3M, or $2,382 a resident, above the $745 median. Taxes on property make up 45% of what comes in, more than the province-wide 44%. The largest line is roads and transit: 27% of the total, $1,002 a resident. In 2024 the median among Alberta’s municipalities was $3,457 a resident; Crowsnest Pass council spent $3,779. Full-time staff number 62, about 10.3 to every thousand residents.
Spending per resident nearby
Every service line, 2024
| Service | 2024 | Per resident | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roads and transit | $6M | $1,002 | 27% |
| Water, sewers and waste | $5M | $834 | 22% |
| Recreation and culture | $4.5M | $749 | 20% |
| General government | $3.6M | $606 | 16% |
| Police, fire and protection | $2.1M | $347 | 9% |
| Planning and development | $967K | $161 | 4% |
| Social services and child care | $374K | $62 | 2% |
| Other | $102K | $17 | 0% |
Money: municipal financial and statistical data 2024, Alberta Municipal Affairs. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Alberta. Residents: Statistics Canada, 2025 estimate.
Having a say in how Crowsnest Pass is run
Check or update the federal list.
elections.ca ↗Every MP lists an office.
ourcommons.ca ↗Ridings, registration and voting dates.
elections.ab.ca ↗What this data can and can’t tell you
- Election results. Ridings changed in 2023: the 2019 and 2021 results are on the old map, and the 2021 vote on today’s map is Elections Canada’s own estimate from polling divisions.
- Council money. Alberta’s 2024 municipal financial returns, per resident with Statistics Canada’s 2025 population estimate.
- Not on this page. No party tally for the council, which the open lists don’t record, and no band councils.
- Which riding. Where residents of the 2021 Census live decides the riding; any riding with 5% of them or more is named.
- Who holds each seat. Who holds each seat is read from Wikidata, so a very recent change in the Commons may not appear yet.
Questions about how Crowsnest Pass is run
Who is the MP for Crowsnest Pass?
Crowsnest Pass is in Foothills, represented by John Barlow (Conservative Party of Canada).
Which party won Crowsnest Pass in the 2021 federal election?
The Conservative Party of Canada: John Barlow won Foothills in 2021 and still holds it.
Who is the MLA for Crowsnest Pass?
Use the Legislative Assembly of Alberta’s own list: every MLA is there by riding, though Crowsnest Pass isn’t placed in one here.
Who heads the council in Crowsnest Pass?
Crowsnest Pass is a specialized municipality; its own website or the province’s municipal directory names the head of council.
How much does Crowsnest Pass council spend?
In 2024, Crowsnest Pass council spent $22.7M in all, for some 6,011 residents, of which $6M went on roads and transit, the biggest line.
Sources: MPs: Wikidata (CC0), 45th Parliament statements, read 7 November 2026; ridings: 2023 Representation Order, Statistics Canada · Money: municipal financial and statistical data 2024, Alberta Municipal Affairs. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Alberta. Residents: Statistics Canada, 2025 estimate. · Next municipal election: the province’s municipal election act · Municipality types: Statistics Canada census subdivisions · Federal results: Elections Canada, 43rd and 44th general elections and the 44th’s transposition to the 2023 ridings, via open.canada.ca. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · MPs’ records: Wikidata (CC0), positions held and party memberships, read 8 November 2026. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).