After almost a 3 month summer break Parliment resumes on Monday Sept 19.

Foothills Conservative MP, John Barlow is fresh off a two day caucus retreat on the east coast.

With a number of issues bubbling within the party as the leadership race is in full swing Barlow says they need to stay focused.

"I think the key to this is that we stay united. And I think one of the lasting legacies of the Right Honourable Stephen Harper is that he brought the party together and he kept us together.  You know [we're] a pretty formidable group when we're united and I hope that we're able to continue that."

One of the key issues Barlow intends to bring up in the House of Commons is the Energy East project which he says is about creating jobs.

"Pipelines aren't just about moving oil from Alberta and Saskatchewan to the east and west coast.  This is about job creation, this is about a significant boost to our economy.  Energy East specifically is a nation builder."

Barlow's also looking to get back into Parliment as the official opposition to question the Liberals about the economy and terrorism.

"There are some very, very important issues right now and [we] have our Prime Minister completely missing in action on issues such as pipelines, the energy sector, terrorism and our security."

Barlow's concern is also focused on job creation right in his own backyard.

"To see Alberta's unemployment start ticking towards 9%.  We can not no longer just sit back and hope things take care of themselves.  We have to take a more active role."

The Conservative leadership race won't be decided until May 27, 2017.