Newfoundland and Labrador’s Minister of Tourism, Recreation and Culture, Andrea Barbour, states that her shift to political life proceeds smoothly, even amid initial backlash over her social media activity.
Embracing the New Role
“I’m doing amazing,” Barbour declares. Before winning election as the Progressive Conservative MHA for St. Barbe-L’Anse aux Meadows, she worked as a real estate agent and cultivated a social media following on Newfoundland’s Northern Peninsula through videos showcasing traditional cooking, dancing, exercise, and daily work.
“It’s been a little bit of a transition for me from being on social media, but I was only on social media for about eight months before coming into office,” Barbour explains during an announcement for Harbour Voices. “So that is just a little tiny piece of who I am. I’m 44 years old. So there’s a lot more to me than social media.”
Social Media Changes Spark Debate
Days after her swearing-in as MHA, Barbour deleted most of her social media videos, sparing only Instagram. Opposition MHAs criticized the decision at the time. Barbour clarifies that she shut down her personal TikTok account before the campaign and her candidate page post-election. She now maintains an official MHA social media presence.
Barbour defeated Liberal incumbent Krista Lynn Howell in the October provincial election for St. Barbe-L’Anse aux Meadows, fueled by a dedicated social media effort.
Navigating Challenges
While Barbour expresses optimism about her position, a recent Facebook reply reveals contrasting emotions: “My cup is empty and I have no joy left in me to share. The lack of respect and the sacrifice I have given for this job is not being recognized or appreciated. I feel drained.”
Barbour counters that most feedback remains positive, backed by strong supporter networks. “The social media aspect of this, it was just a platform for me to express myself as I was a realtor and author and an artist and I was promoting my businesses,” she notes. “Now that I’m minister of tourism, culture, arts and recreation, I had to put that aside, and I’m just taking on a new role and I feel like I’ve slid into that role really naturally.”
Prior Experience Aids Fit
With 16 years in federal government service, Barbour identifies parallels to her current duties. “Maybe from the outside, a perspective of someone looking in, may not see that I may fit in so well, but knowing myself and knowing where I came from, it is a perfect fit for who I am,” she asserts.
