The Price of a Door: Market vs. Non-Market Housing
In this milestone 10th episode, Parksville councillors Sean Wood and Joel Grenz break down one of the most talked-about issues in local government: housing.
What’s the difference between market and non-market housing? Why is non-market housing so hard (and slow) to build? Who actually pays for it? And what does the “Vienna Model” have to do with any of this?
From permissive tax exemptions to project delays at BC Housing, this episode pulls back the curtain on how housing decisions actually get made—and who carries the cost. Featuring a fiery quote from Courtenay councillor Wendy Morin and a potential idea for how BC builds homes.
Whether you’re a taxpayer, tenant, policymaker, or just housing-curious, this episode is for you.
👉 Subscribe, rate, and review on your favourite podcast platform.
Find all our episodes at nonpartisanhacks.com and be sure to drop us a line.
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The Next Leader of the BC Green Party with Adam Bremner-Akins, Dr. Jonathan Kerr, and Emily Lowan
The BC Green Party is about to pick a new leader, and the three candidates joined Joel and Sean on the deck to make their case. Adam Bremner-Akins (political science student and party secretary), Dr. Jonathan Kerr (Comox councillor and family doctor), and Emily Lowan (climate organizer and researcher) sat down for an unfiltered conversation about strategy, ideology, and what it takes to grow beyond two seats.
Should the BC Greens court centrist voters or build a "Fight the Oligarchs" coalition? How would they tackle BC's deficit, and what role government should play in subsidizing the energy transition?
The conversation covers everything from BC's unnamed new dam to healthcare reform, offshore wind farms, and why one candidate thinks we need fewer EVs and more e-bikes. Plus: how to work with existing Green MLAs when you don't have a seat, and whether "crisitunity" is the approach to BC's multiple challenges.
🎧 Listen in for:
Membership growth numbers revealed!
Why healthcare reform could fix BC's budget crisis
Three very different visions for the party's future
How the confidence agreement gets renegotiated this fall
Whether Greens should fight or finesse their way to power
BC Green members vote September 13-23.
👉 Subscribe, rate, and review on your favourite podcast platform.
Find all our episodes at nonpartisanhacks.com and be sure to drop us a line.
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Vancouver Island’s Forgotten Corridor with Thomas Bevan of ICF
What’s next for Vancouver Island’s rail corridor? Is just a relic of the past, or the backbone of its future?
In this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks, hosts Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with Thomas Bevan, CEO of the Island Corridor Foundation (ICF), to talk trains, trestles, and the tangled politics of one of Vancouver Island’s most unique public assets.
Bevan shares what it’s like to work with every level of government—federal, provincial, regional districts, municipalities, and 14 First Nations—while trying to reimagine a 290-kilometre corridor that runs through the backyards of about 80% of island residents. From Scotch broom removal and firebreaks to high-rail buses and long-term transit-oriented development, the conversation uncovers both the risks and the opportunities of this corridor.
🎧 Listen in for:
Corridor ownership: Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Why the corridor still matters for housing, planning, and the future of Vancouver Island
The Wesley Ridge fire’s impact on trestles and infrastructure
Creative short-term uses, including high-rail buses
How governance silos shape (and sometimes stall) progress
Whether this “forgotten corridor” can become the island’s true spine
👉 Subscribe, rate, and review on your favourite podcast platform.
Find all our episodes at nonpartisanhacks.com and be sure to drop us a line.
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Meet me in the Middle: Karin Kirkpatrick on CentreBC
BC’s political landscape seems to change by the week... new parties, shifting allegiances, and plenty of noise. But what about the voters in the middle who just want good government?
In this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks, Parksville councillors Joel Grenz and Sean Wood welcome Karin Kirkpatrick, leader of CentreBC and former MLA for West Vancouver–Capilano. From her time as Shadow Minister for Housing, Childcare, and Families to her leadership in the non-profit sector, Karin brings a unique perspective on how government can serve people better, without the partisan dogfights.
The conversation covers:
Why CentreBC was formed and what it means to be “in the middle”
The challenges of housing, affordability, and short-term rentals (including Parksville’s Resort Row)
How governments can (and should) collaborate across levels
The risks of polarization and the case for pragmatic, data-driven decision-making
Why “boring” government might actually be good government
Recorded from Joel’s deck (with fresh bread in the background), this episode blends substance, banter, and a look at what’s next for BC politics.
👉 Subscribe, rate, and review on your favourite podcast platform.
Find all our episodes at nonpartisanhacks.com and be sure to drop us a line.
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So You’re Thinking of Running for Local Government
Thinking about throwing your hat in the ring for local office? Or maybe someone told you you should run? In this episode, we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to run — and serve — in local government.
Joel and Sean share candid reflections on why people run, what the job actually involves, and what they wish they knew before signing up. From campaign prep and council dynamics to emotional stamina and reading 2,000-page agendas, this episode is packed with real talk (and a few warnings).
Plus... An apology from a Nanaimo city councillor who suggested sending busloads of people to a cabinet minister’s house, and had the courage to walk it back.
Whether you’re gearing up for the next municipal election or just curious what goes on behind the nameplates, this episode is for you.
👉 Subscribe, rate, and review on your favourite podcast platform.
Find all our episodes at nonpartisanhacks.com and be sure to drop us a line.
Hosted by two Parksville city councillors, Non-Partisan Hacks brings you behind the scenes of how government really works — without the spin, the shouting, or the partisanship.
We dive into the practical, the absurd, and the oddly inspiring world of local government, while mixing in the occasional provincial and federal twist. Expect real talk about decision-making, budgets, bylaws, and political hot potatoes — with a healthy dose of humour and honesty.
Canada - english