LETHBRIDGE – “I want to be a part of the change that is going to happen in Canada.”
Kas MacMillan is running for the Green Party in the 2015 federal election. He plans to meet as many people as he can in order to share what the Green Party is all about.
Global News reporter Quinn Campbell asked MacMillan a few questions we thought voters would like to know. Below is a transcript of the interview edited for brevity.
Quinn Campbell: Where are you from?
Kas MacMillan: I grew up in Coalhurst, and went to Coalhurst High School. I graduated from there, did a year at the University of Lethbridge before I transferred out to Ottawa to go to Carleton University studying history and political science. I came home every summer; I still love the city. I’m definitely more of a country, small city kind of guy. The big city isn’t really my thing so I’m glad to be home.
QC: Why did you decide to run in this federal election?
KM: There’s a lot of variables but basically, being a 23-year-old student, there’s a lot of issues in Canada that I recognize and I figured that running in the election would be the best way to combat them. Originally I wanted to work for the civil service but I decided that implementing policies that I don’t agree with would be very grueling, and I’d rather make a positive change in Canada and to do that through a political aspect.
QC: What type of campaigning will you be doing?
KM: I’m doing door knocking every evening, Monday to Friday after 5:30 p.m. I’ll go around the city, around the town, around the county and just talk to people. I find that especially being in university, a lot of issues that I think might be important to Lethbridge aren’t necessarily important to the average person. It’s just nice getting out to meet people, hear what their problems are, see what they think and just getting to know people.
QC: What are the key issues you will focus on?
A lot of people think that we are a bunch of pot-smoking hippies and that is not the case at all.
QC: Is this your first time running for politics?
KM: Yes it is. Four years ago I was 19 years old and at the University of Lethbridge—that was the last federal election. It was in my head and I wanted to help out because I want to be a part of the change that is going to happen in Canada and help direct it in the right direction. So, in the last election I realized I wanted to help out, but with school and everything happening I never quite got my feet wet. Almost a year ago I contacted a couple of the political parties because it might be ironic but, I’m very nonpartisan. I believe working in across party lines. After the election it doesn’t matter what party you are from, if you are the best of the best you should be the one being consulted.
I’ve had a lot of support and basically the biggest thing is telling people what the Green Party stands for. A lot of people think that we are a bunch of pot-smoking hippies and that is not the case at all. We are not a one-issue party, we have a full platform. Our platform is actually a lot longer than the other parties, it’s a lot to read, I’ve read it a few times. We are a full-issue party. We have stances on every single issue you can think of, whether it’s the economy, the environment, foreign policy, social policy, health care, education…anything you can think of, we have an official stance for everything. And I do believe we are one of the best parties because we are a grassroots party.
You can reach MacMillan through email or Facebook.
Email: kas.macmillan@greenparty.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MacMillanForLethbridge
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