First elected to the Ontario Legislature in June 1995, Toby was re-elected in 1999, 2003 and 2007.
Over the years, Toby has chaired a number of legislative committees and served in portfolios focussing on agriculture, environment and natural resources.

Toby captured 61 per cent of the vote in the 2007 provincial election – to become Haldimand-Norfolk MPP. Appointed Environment Critic, Barrett was the first Conservative to be elected Caucus Chair. For the past seven years Toby has been a member of the Finance Committee.

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 and have three children – Shawn, Brett and Brittany.  Before starting his career, Toby traveled in over 50 countries and has an abiding interest in antique cars, trucks and tractors.