Kevin Barr facts for kids

Kevin Barr is a Canadian politician. He served in the Yukon Legislative Assembly from 2011 to 2016. This is like being a representative for a specific area. He represented the area called Mount Lorne-Southern Lakes. He was a member of the Yukon New Democratic Party. He was first elected in 2011. Later, in the 2016 election, he was not re-elected. John Streicker from the Yukon Liberal Party won instead.

Kevin Barr's Political Journey

Kevin Barr first started his political journey in 2006. He ran for the New Democrats in a rural area called Southern Lakes. He ran against Patrick Rouble, who was already a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). Barr did not win that election.

He tried again in 2011. This time, he ran for a seat in the House of Commons. This is where laws are made for all of Canada. He was part of the New Democrat team. He ran against Larry Bagnell, who was already in office. Kevin Barr finished in fourth place in that election.

Later in 2011, Barr ran for office again. This was for the Yukon New Democratic Party in the Yukon territorial election. He ran in a new area called Mount Lorne-Southern Lakes, which is where he lives. This time, Kevin Barr won the election easily.

What Kevin Barr Did in Office

During his time in the Legislative Assembly, Kevin Barr had important roles. He was the New Democrat Caucus Chair. This means he led meetings for his party's group of politicians. He also spoke for his party on topics like Community Services and Tourism. He was also a critic for the Yukon Liquor Corporation and the Child and Youth Advocate.

While in office, Kevin Barr strongly opposed fracking in the Yukon. Fracking is a way to get oil and gas from the ground. He believed it was not good for the environment. In December 2015, he also asked for National Aboriginal Day to become a new holiday in the Yukon. A statutory holiday means most people get the day off work or school.

Barr wanted to be re-elected in 2016. However, he was narrowly defeated by John Streicker of the Yukon Liberal Party. Streicker had also run against Barr in the 2011 federal election. Streicker won by only 14 votes. This was one of the closest elections that year. Kevin Barr was one of four New Democrat politicians who lost their seats. After this election, the New Democrats became the third-largest party.

Kevin Barr's Life Before Politics

Before he became a politician, Kevin Barr worked in his community. He helped people in Whitehorse and Carcross. He is also a musician. He was part of a band called Undertakin' Daddies. His band was even nominated for a Juno Award. This is a big music award in Canada.