Welcome to the Missing Middle, a podcast about why the middle class in Canada is disappearing. We hope to help you understand why life is becoming unaffordable for so many in this country, and what can be done to reverse course.
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Données mises à jour le 29/10/2026
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The "Kitchen Window Test": Why Modern Housing Fails Kids
Saison 1 · Épisode 219
mercredi 28 octobre 2026 • Durée 25:33
In this episode of Classonomix, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down what actually makes a home “family-friendly,” and what a survey of 4,000 Canadians reveals about whether townhomes, strawberry-box bungalows, and apartment towers are truly fit for raising kids. They unpack the developmental science behind childhood outcomes, introduce the “kitchen window test” for fostering independent play, and explain why the family-friendly courtyard apartments popular across Europe remain effectively illegal to build under Canadian zoning and building codes.
Chapters:
00:00 The Great Family Exodus
00:58 Defining Family Friendly Homes
05:15 Rating Canadian Homes: Suburbs to Condos
10:05 The Low-Rise vs. High-Rise Trap for Kids
14:38 What Science Says About Raising Kids in Suburbs
18:05 Why Public Parks Fail Young Families
19:23 The "Kitchen Window Test"
20:15 The European Courtyard Alternative
22:41 Why It’s So Hard to Build Family Housing
Research:
Social housing: A key part of past and future housing policyhttps://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2020/10/social-housing-a-key-part-of-past-and-future-housing-policy_ef96d6d9/5b54f96b-en.pdf
Did Ontario Turn a Blind Eye to Career College Fraud? | Alex Usher
Saison 1 · Épisode 218
vendredi 23 octobre 2026 • Durée 20:33
How did hundreds of millions of dollars in Ontario student aid end up at the centre of a major funding scandal, and why did it take so long for the government to act?
In this episode of DemograFix, Cara Stern sits down with Alex Usher, president of Higher Education Strategy Associates and author of the annual State of Post-Secondary Education in Canada report, to investigate the OSAP funding scandal and the Ontario Provincial Police’s criminal probe into alleged fraud at private career colleges.
They unpack how Ontario’s student aid system went wrong, what the investigation means for students and taxpayers, and what this scandal reveals about the flaws in Canada’s post-secondary funding system.
They also explore the growing generational divide: why Gen Z is facing more debt, fewer opportunities, and a tougher path to financial security than previous generations.
Subscribe for more conversations about Canada’s economy, demographics, and the policies shaping our future.
Chapters:
00:00 – "I Did Everything Right" (Why Gen Z is Struggling) 01:51 – What is a Career College? 02:38 – The $1 Billion OSAP Fraud Scandal Exposed 05:13 – Why Ontario Cut Student Grants Instead of Stopping Fraud 06:25 – Hundreds of Colleges Are About to Go Under 10:32 – Cover-ups, Lawsuits & Freedom of Information 11:05 – Is a College Degree Still Worth It in 2026? 12:16 – The Truth About "Credential Inflation" 14:51 – Do We Really Need 4-Year Degrees Anymore? 18:47 – Net-Zero Tuition: How Student Aid Actually Works
Research: The Contemptible OSAP Cover-Up https://higheredstrategy.com/the-contemptible-osap-cover-up/
How Doug Ford’s OSAP changes are forcing Ontario students to make a choice: Go deep into debt or drop out https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/how-doug-fords-osap-changes-are-forcing-ontario-students-to-make-a-choice-go-deep-into-debt-or-drop-out/article_3cdce5f9-fec7-4faf-95f9-a79592f487a0.html
Court records show Ontario's 'serious concerns' about three career collegeshttps://www.thetrillium.ca/news/education-and-training/court-records-show-ontarios-serious-concerns-about-three-career-colleges-12851478This Ontario career college has suspended classes. Here’s whyhttps://www.cp24.com/politics/queens-park/2026/10/18/this-ontario-career-college-has-suspended-classes-heres-why/$385M in OSAP grants sent to students at 7 career colleges last year, documents showhttps://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/385m-in-osap-grants-sent-to-students-at-7-career-colleges-last-year-documents-show/The State of Post-Secondary Education in Canada, 2026https://higheredstrategy.com/the-state-of-post-secondary-education-in-canada-2026/Credits:Cara Stern https://x.com/carasternhttps://bsky.app/profile/carastern.bsky.socialMeredith Martin https://twitter.com/meredithmartinhttps://bsky.app/profile/meredithmartin.bsky.socialPaige Saundershttps://site.canadiancivil.com/profiles/Sean Foreman@seanegertonforemanhttps://bsky.app/profile/seanforeman.bsky.socialMike Moffatt https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatthttps://bsky.app/profile/mikepmoffatt.bsky.socialUniversity Of Ottawa Co-op StudentFrancis Gabriel CarmonaBrought to you by the Missing Middle Initiative https://www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/
Why Nobody Can Afford to Have Fun Anymore
Saison 1 · Épisode 216
mercredi 21 octobre 2026 • Durée 27:17
Why is it getting so hard to afford a night out? From $200 dinners and sky-high concert tickets to the disappearance of cheap bowling alleys and dinner parties, having fun is becoming a luxury. In this episode of Classonomics, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down how soaring housing costs, stagnant wage growth and rising entertainment prices are changing the way we socialize. As affordable third spaces disappear and young Canadians spend more time alone, are we facing a loneliness crisis fuelled by the cost of living? And what happens when we can no longer afford the everyday experiences that bring us together?
Chapters:
00:00 - Why Having Fun Got So Expensive 00:49 - The Data Behind the Loneliness Epidemic 03:10 - Rent, Wages & Skyrocketing Ticket Prices 07:16 - Splurge Culture: Concerts vs. Real Life 10:34 - What Happened to Cheap Hangout Spots? 13:55 - How the Housing Crisis Killed Dinner Parties 22:15 - The Rise of the "Alone Economy" 25:17 - The Hidden Cost of Living Alone
Research:
NetNewsLedger - Funflation is raising concert, sports and streaming costs for Canadians: https://www.netnewsledger.com/2026/07/16/funflation-is-raising-concert-sports-and-streaming-costs-for-canadians/
Bloomberg Opinion (Allison Schrager) - Why Bowl Together When You Can Scroll Alone? (Lucky Strike, league decline, third places): https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-10-04/why-bowl-together-when-you-can-scroll-alone
The Atlantic (Derek Thompson) - Why Americans Stopped Throwing Dinner Parties (42% to 12% hosting monthly): https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/10/americans-socialization-dinner-decline-hosting/688846/
Pollstar - 2025 Year-End Business Analysis (average ticket $96.17 in 2019, $132.62 in 2025; stadium average $216.13, up 18.3%): https://news.pollstar.com/?p=1214179
City of Toronto staff report (July 2026) - grassroots music venues: ~5% own their buildings, ~30 lost 2014 to pandemic, 50% property tax cut: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-289602.pdf Statistics Canada - Survey of Household Spending, 2023 (recreation $5,231; one-person households and shelter share):https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250521/dq250521a-eng.htmStatistics Canada - Time pressure and time spent with friends over the last 30 years:https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250617/dq250617d-eng.htmCanadian Press - Canadians spending less time with friends:https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/article/canadians-spending-less-time-with-friends-especially-those-of-working-age-statcan/Statistics Canada - Canadian Social Survey: Loneliness in Canada (2021):https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/211124/dq211124e-eng.htmhttps://asiatimes.com/2026/09/asias-lonely-economy-of-one/Statistics Canada - Loneliness as a Quality of Life Framework indicator:https://www160.statcan.gc.ca/society-societe/loneliness-solitude-eng.htm
Housing Promises: What Works, What Doesn’t, and What’s Missing
Saison 1 · Épisode 215
vendredi 16 octobre 2026 • Durée 23:58
With election day approaching across Ontario, are mayoral candidates offering real solutions to the housing crisis, or just slogans?
Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt examine housing platforms from candidates in nine Ontario cities to see which proposals could actually make homes more affordable for middle-class families, renters, and first-time homebuyers.
They break down the policies that could make a difference, the promises that need more scrutiny, and the municipal decisions that are shaping the future of housing in Ontario.
In this episode:
What's missing from candidates' housing plans? Why concrete targets, timelines, and realistic funding matter.
Mississauga's property tax proposal: Would allowing seniors to defer property taxes help homeowners, or create new costs for taxpayers?
Toronto's land transfer tax: Could cutting the tax help families move into homes that better suit their needs, and how would the city replace the lost revenue?
Windsor's fourplex debate: What happens when municipal leaders oppose policies that could allow more homes to be built?
Oshawa and Guelph's housing plans: Can faster approvals, lower development charges, and more flexible zoning improve affordability?
The case for family-sized homes: Why building more housing means more than hitting unit targets, and why young families need more options.
What good housing policy looks like: Mike shares the municipal reforms he would prioritize, from streamlining approvals to making starter homes cheaper to build.
The big question: Can good housing policy win elections, and are municipal politicians willing to make the changes needed to help the next generation afford a home?
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction: Analyzing Ontario’s Municipal Housing Platforms
00:50 - What to Look For in a Middle-Class Housing Plan
02:23 - Initial Reactions & "Where’s the Beef?"
Stealing From the Future: The High Cost of Senior Benefits
Saison 1 · Épisode 214
mercredi 14 octobre 2026 • Durée 16:39
In this episode of Classonomics, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down why political promises to give "more money to seniors" actually enrich Canada's wealthiest demographic, the myth that retirees "paid into" Old Age Security, how brutal child benefit clawbacks contrast with generous senior write-offs, and how taking money from young workers is quietly hurting the economy.
Chapters:
00:00:00 The Problem with “More Money for Seniors”
00:02:53 How OAS Works & Why Income Thresholds Matter
00:04:36 The Conservative Payout Plan
00:05:41 Seniors vs. Struggling Young Families
00:08:32 Generational Theft & Economic Drag
00:10:03 Why Politicians Pandering to Boomers Always Win
00:13:23 We’ll Be $3 Trillion in Debt and Still Giving Discretionary Handouts
Canada Child Benefit — income thresholds and calculation:
The "Empty Land" Myth: Why Canada Can’t Just Sprout New Cities
Saison 1 · Épisode 212
mercredi 7 octobre 2026 • Durée 18:49
In this episode of Classonomics, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down whether creating brand-new cities can actually solve Canada’s housing affordability crisis, how our metropolitan numbers compare globally, the failed history of planned-city experiments like Ontario's Townsend and Australia's Monarto, and why central planning can't replace the organic economic realities that make cities thrive.
Chapters:
00:00 Why Doesn’t Canada Build New Cities? 01:23 Canada Is Already Creating New Cities 03:10 Why Smaller Canadian Cities Are Growing Faster 04:37 Does Canada Actually Need More Cities? 09:20 Why Canada’s New City Plans Keep Failing 14:20 Can the Free Market Create New Cities? 16:20 Why Moving People Won’t Solve the Housing Crisis
What Happens When an Outsider Runs for Party Leader? | Eric Lombardi
Saison 1 · Épisode 213
mardi 6 octobre 2026 • Durée 59:13
We often talk about how politics caters to seniors at the expense of young people, and that part of the cure is to get more young voices into politics.
But what actually happens when a young outsider puts their name on the ballot for a major party leadership position?
In this episode of Answer Period, former Ontario Liberal leadership candidate Eric Lombardi joins us for a candid conversation about his outsider campaign, navigating the tension between sound-bite politics and deep policy, and the double-edged sword of social media in modern campaigns. We'll dive into the harsh realities facing young political outsiders, what it truly takes to challenge the establishment, and key takeaways for the next generation of leaders looking to make a real impact.
Credits: Mike Moffatt https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt https://bsky.app/profile/mikepmoffatt.bsky.social
Cara Stern https://x.com/carastern https://bsky.app/profile/carastern.bsky.social
Meredith Martin https://twitter.com/meredithmartin https://bsky.app/profile/meredithmartin.bsky.social
Sean Foreman @seanegertonforeman https://bsky.app/profile/seanforeman.bsky.social
Canadian Civil youtube.com/CanadianCivil
Co-op Student Francis Gabriel Carmona
Brought to you by the Missing Middle Initiative https://www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/
Housing affordability is increasingly shaping how young people think about politics, political parties, and the future of democracy.
On this episode of DemograFix, Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern explore what research tells us about the relationship between the housing crisis and young people's political views across North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Does declining housing affordability deepen the divide between younger and older voters? Is it pushing young people away from centrist parties, or toward the left or right? And what happens when an entire generation starts to lose faith in its ability to ever own a home?
Mike puts six statements about housing and politics to Cara, drawing on academic research and polling data to explore how housing affordability is reshaping political priorities, polarization, voter engagement, and the desire for homeownership.
Chapters:
00:00 Housing Affordability Is a Global Crisis
01:26 Could the Housing Crisis Radicalize Young Voters?
03:45 Is Housing Widening the Generational Political Divide?
06:24 Is the Housing Crisis Polarizing Young Voters?
10:12 Is Housing Pushing Young People Left or Right?
13:11 How Housing Is Creating a New Class Divide
17:12 Is the Housing Crisis Driving Political Disengagement?
Bank of Canada’s Carolyn Rogers on Productivity, Trade-offs, and Housing
Saison 1 · Épisode 211
jeudi 1 octobre 2026 • Durée 17:24
Join us for an exclusive post-speech interview with Bank of Canada Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers following her address to the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce and CFA Society Victoria.
In this conversation, Rogers sits down to unpack her frank speech on Canada's housing affordability dilemma. We discuss why interest rates are too blunt of a tool to fix housing, how Canada's heavy reliance on residential real estate impacts our national productivity, and what regulatory stress tests actually achieved versus what they couldn't fix. Plus, we dive into the trade-offs of measuring shelter costs in the CPI and what it will genuinely take to untangle the Canadian economy from the housing trap.
Research:
Canada’s housing market / Le marché canadien du logement
In this episode of Classonomics, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt examine how Canada’s outdated Employment Insurance model leaves young professionals and gig workers behind during record spikes in youth unemployment. They explore why current rules penalize urban renters, how maximum benefits fall short of basic living costs, and what practical policy reforms could fix the system for the modern workforce.
Chapters:
00:00 Canada’s EI System Wasn’t Built for Today’s Workers
01:02 How Employment Insurance Became Outdated
02:16 How EI Eligibility Actually Works
03:10 Why Young Workers Are Falling Through the EI Gaps
06:23 EI Doesn’t Cover Most Gig Workers
07:38 The EI Rules That Punish Short-Term Jobs
09:24 What Happens When EI Runs Out?
11:11 Why Ottawa’s EI Fixes Aren’t Helping Young Workers
15:03 EI Benefits Don’t Go Very Far in Toronto
17:42 How We Could Actually Fix Employment Insurance
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