Background
Barlow was born in Galt (now Cambridge), Ontario.
Barlow was born in Galt (now Cambridge), Ontario.
He was educated at Galt Business College, and served as president of a trucking company.
Barlow was a city alderman for ten years. He first campaigned for the Ontario legislature in the 1977 provincial election, and lost to New Democratic Party incumbent Monty Davidson in the Cambridge constituency by 554 votes. He ran again in the 1981 election, and defeated Davidson by 849 votes.
He was re-elected in the 1985 election, defeating NDP candidate Alec Dufresne by 903 votes.
The PCs fell to a minority government in this election, and were soon defeated in the legislature. The Progressive Conservatives fell to 16 seats out of 130 in the 1987 election.
Barlow finished third in Cambridge, losing to Mike Farnan of the New Democratic Party. Barlow was appointed to the Cambridge Art Theatre Management Committee in 2005.
In opposition, Barlow served as his party"s critic for Transportation and Communications and Small Business.
He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1981 to 1987, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party.