Yasmin Freeman is hoping to be the next premier of B.C. The 48-year-old Ladysmith woman and self-described “university of life” graduate is leading the Citizens Party of British Columbia, a socially driven party, which aims at reducing the poverty gap and giving all citizens a voice in political matters.
Freeman is also hoping to have her name on the ballot next May. Although she leads a fledgling party, Freeman describes herself as apolitical. She says that politics should be universal and allow greater participation from citizens while operating publically so that citizens will be informed of their government’s actions at all times.
Q: Why did you decide to run for Premier?
A: I have seen the way that the provincial government has accommodated the rich corporations, at the expense of the normal citizen. A lot of the decisions made that affect everyone are done in secret, and the people have no say. Take for example the HST, and how that was brought in.
Q: What is your political background or ideologies and where does your party fit on the political spectrum?
A: If you think of the party as a pendulum, the party is not far right, nor is it far left.
It is right in the middle. That way, to benefit all the citizens if the party needs to lean to the right, or the left it can and will be able to. Another way to look at it is, that as it stands now, it is like a champagne glass fountain. The rich get all the benefits, and by the time it trickles down to the everyday person, there is very little left.
The Citizens Party of B.C. would be the opposite. Think of it as a chandelier. If we work from the bottom up, there will be benefits for everyone from the poor to the rich.
Q: Are you disillusioned with the current B.C. government?
A: Yes, I have given Christy Clark an honest chance, but she is showing the same attitudes as her predecessor. There are a lot of people who do not want the pipelines and tankers in our province, and although people are speaking out, she is still pushing for it. Plus, she is selling our resources overseas at the expense of our own workers.
Q: What could you bring to B.C. as premier?
A: If I were Premier all citizens would have a voice in [the legislature]. The very first thing I would do is get rid of the outrageous wages and pensions, and I will not forget that the government works for the people and not the other way around.
I would return BC Ferries to a Crown Corporation, and if and when work needs to be done on them, it would be done in B.C., by our own workers.
For more information about Freeman and the Citizen’s Party of British Columbia visit
<www.citizenspartyofbritishcolumbia.yolasite.com/>.
*The views in this article do not reflect the views of the Navigator or of VIU.