Explore every episode of the podcast The Missing Middle Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The "Kitchen Window Test": Why Modern Housing Fails Kids | 28 Oct 2026 | 00:25:33 | |
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 Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Did Ontario Turn a Blind Eye to Career College Fraud? | Alex Usher | 23 Oct 2026 | 00:20:33 | |
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? Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Why Nobody Can Afford to Have Fun Anymore | 21 Oct 2026 | 00:27:17 | |
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? Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Housing Promises: What Works, What Doesn’t, and What’s Missing | 16 Oct 2026 | 00:23:58 | |
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:
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?" 03:04 - Property Tax Deferrals for Seniors: Good or Bad Policy? 06:30 - Land Transfer Taxes: Removing Barriers to Moving 08:46 - Strong Mayor Powers & The Fourplex Veto Debate 10:34 - Development Charges & Streamlining Approvals in Oshawa 12:31 - Density on Arterials vs. Neighbourhood Infill 14:59 - The Student Housing Crisis in Southwestern Ontario 16:35 - Core Principles for a Real Municipal Housing Vision 18:50 - Key Policies: Form-Based Zoning, AI Approvals, & Tax Reform 21:37 - Does Good Housing Policy Actually Win Elections? Research/links: https://www.alvintedjo.ca/affordability https://chewforguelph.ca/priorities/ Credits: Mike Moffatt https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt https://bsky.app/profile/mikepmoffatt.bsky.social Cara Stern 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 Co-op Student Francis Gabriel Carmona Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Stealing From the Future: The High Cost of Senior Benefits | 14 Oct 2026 | 00:16:39 | |
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 00:14:37 Stop Giving Wealthy Retirees Welfare RESEARCH LINKS: Sabrina Maddeaux column (National Post) — https://nationalpost.com/opinion/sabrina-maddeaux-conservatives-lose-the-plot-with-pitch-for-higher-old-age-security Old Age Security — overview, amounts, and clawback thresholds (Government of Canada): https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/old-age-security.html Canada Child Benefit — income thresholds and calculation: Parliamentary Budget Officer — fiscal analysis of seniors benefits and OAS projections: Generation Squeeze — generational fairness and intergenerational transfers: Net wealth data: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/241029/t001a-eng.htm Poverty data: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/topics-start/poverty Parliamentary Budget Office costing: https://www.pbo-dpb.ca/en/epc-estimates--estimations-cpe/45/EL-45-1031563-P Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| The "Empty Land" Myth: Why Canada Can’t Just Sprout New Cities | 07 Oct 2026 | 00:18:49 | |
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? Research: UK New towns: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_towns_in_the_United_Kingdom Townsend: https://haldimandpress.com/townsend-the-metropolitan-city-that-never-was/ Monarto: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarto,_South_Australia Credits: Mike Moffatt https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt https://bsky.app/profile/mikepmoffatt.bsky.social Sabrina Maddeaux https://x.com/SabrinaMaddeaux Meredith Martin https://twitter.com/meredithmartin https://bsky.app/profile/meredithmartin.bsky.social Sean Foreman @seanegertonforeman https://bsky.app/profile/seanforeman.bsky.social Cara Stern https://x.com/carastern https://bsky.app/profile/carastern.bsky.social University Of Ottawa Co-op Student Francis Gabriel Carmona Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/ Brought to you by the Missing Middle Initiative https://www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| What Happens When an Outsider Runs for Party Leader? | Eric Lombardi | 06 Oct 2026 | 00:59:13 | |
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. Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Is the Housing Crisis Radicalizing Young Voters? | 02 Oct 2026 | 00:22:27 | |
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? 19:38 Do Young People Still Want to Own a Home? Research/links: The Dangerous Disillusionment of Young Canadians How to lose friends and alienate people: The social and political consequences of Europe’s housing crisis: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/17816858241274918 Three inconvenient truths:How to stop housing radicalising the young and killing the political centre Economy and Space piece What drives support for large-scale housing reform? Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Bank of Canada’s Carolyn Rogers on Productivity, Trade-offs, and Housing | 01 Oct 2026 | 00:17:24 | |
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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C9jD5xQJdM Canada’s mortgage market—A question of balance Remarksby Carolyn Rogers at the Economic Club of Canada, November 6, 2024 https://www.bankofcanada.ca/2024/11/canadas-mortgage-market-a-question-of-balance/ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Paying In, Locked Out: Why EI Fails Young People | 30 Sep 2026 | 00:22:22 | |
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 Research: Statistics Canada - Employment Insurance Coverage Survey, 2024 (youth eligibility 50.3%, part-time 41.6%): https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/251029/dq251029a-eng.htm Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey, July 2026 (youth unemployment 12.6%): https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/260807/dq260807a-eng.htm Service Canada - EI regular benefits eligibility and the qualifying period rule: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-regular-benefit/eligibility.html Service Canada - EI benefit amount (55%, $729 weekly max, $68,900 MIE for 2026): https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-regular-benefit/benefit-amount.html ESDC Digest of Benefit Entitlement Principles - long-tenured worker definition and 20 extra weeks: ESDC - EI Monitoring and Assessment Report 2024-25, Chapter 2 (34.4% entitlement exhaustion rate): Canada Gazette SOR/2026-64 - 25.4% of unemployed were long-term unemployed in January 2026: https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2026/2026-04-08/html/sor-dors64-eng.html Rentals.ca March 2026 Rent Report - Toronto one-bedroom asking rent $2,206: https://rentals.ca/blog/rentals-ca-march-2026-rent-report Statistics Canada - Experiences of self-employed workers in Canada, 2023: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240603/dq240603b-eng.htm Canada Employment Insurance Commission - 2026 premium rate and $17.2B Operating Account deficit: ESDC - EI modernization consultations, Phase 2 What We Heard report (2022): IRPP - Canada's EI Is Once Again Failing Its Stress Test (benefit exhaustion as the coverage driver): https://irpp.org/research-studies/ei-failing-stress/ C.D. Howe Institute - Should gig workers be covered by the EI regime? (the case against): https://cdhowe.org/publication/providing-gig-workers-ei-no-easy-answer/ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Can Egg Freezing Really Delay Your Biological Clock? | 25 Sep 2026 | 00:18:30 | |
As life milestones like finishing school, buying a house, and getting married get pushed further into our 30s, biology remains the one deadline that refuses to bend. In this episode of DemograFix, hosts Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern take a deep dive into the business, economics, and realities of egg freezing, sparked by U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) publicly sharing her own fertility journey. Mike and Cara discuss how skyrocketing housing prices, student debt, and extended education force modern life choices to clash directly with biological clocks. They break down what real-world data shows about live birth success rates, explain why calling the procedure an insurance policy is deeply misleading, and unpack the steep financial burden and physical toll involved. While egg freezing gives many people options and extra time, this episode asks the bigger question of whether medical technology can truly fix the broader structural economic problems delaying family life today. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: Delayed Milestones and Biological Realities 00:42 - AOC’s Journey & Public Misconceptions Around Egg Freezing 01:52 - Why Economic Factors Are Pushing Fertility Later 03:58 - Corporate Benefits: Workplace Culture vs. True Solutions 05:12 - The Emotional and Physical Reality of the Process 07:12 - High-Pressure Marketing and "Insurance Policy" Claims 09:50 - What the Data Actually Says About Success Rates 12:11 - Ideal Ages vs. Realities of When People Freeze Eggs 13:28 - Financial Costs and Lack of Public Coverage 15:12 - Common Myths About Aging Eggs and Fertility 16:15 - The Need for Clinic Transparency and Industry Regulation 17:20 - Conclusion: Fix Structural Causes, Not Just Biological Clocks Research/links: CARTR Plus Annual Report 2025 https://cfas.ca/_Library/CARTR/2025_CARTR_annual_report_CFAS_2024_Data_.pdf Fertility Inc - Investigative Journalism Bureau https://ijb.utoronto.ca/projects/fertility-inc/ Elective Egg Freezing for Age-Related Fertility Decline https://www.cmaj.ca/content/192/6/E142 Mount Sinai Fertility - What to know about egg freezing https://mountsinaifertility.com/2025/03/28/what-to-know-about-egg-freezing/ With Big Choices Ahead, Ocasio-Cortez Navigates New Territory Ocasio-Cortez’s decision riles some on right, while also winning admiration https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6030686-aoc-egg-freezing-controversy/ AOC's egg-freezing posts on Instagram And her TikTok Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Dragon’s Den Legend Reacts To Today’s Squeezed Economy: Interview with David Chilton | 23 Sep 2026 | 00:45:49 | |
In this episode of Classonomics, host Mike Moffatt sits down with financial advice guru David Chilton, author of the Canadian classic The Wealthy Barber and former co-host of Dragon's Den. Decades after his original bestseller offered foundational advice to young Canadians, Chilton reflects on how drastically the economic landscape has shifted, and why writing his updated edition proved far more challenging. The conversation dives deep into the realities facing young adults today, from ubiquitous credit and skyrocketing housing costs to the inflation rates hit hardest by major life stages. Chilton and Moffatt dissect the underlying factors behind housing unaffordability, such as stubborn land costs and municipal development fees, while addressing the growing "brain drain" of talent moving away from expensive urban centers. They also evaluate whether renting and investing the difference in broad-market, low-cost ETFs can outperform traditional homeownership, the dangers of online sports gambling among young men, and how older generations truly feel about housing value trade-offs. Finally, Chilton shares actionable, practical guidance tailored for three groups: policy recommendations for economic productivity, non-financial advice on staying optimistic for recent graduates, and smart pre-retirement steps for mid-career professionals. Chapters: Pop up video around 8:55 - mcmansions ep https://youtu.be/doxJHEqiuV0?si=kIU6rVuB_fsCGNaZ Research links: The Wealthy Barber 2025 Indigo Exclusive: The Fully Updated All-Time Canadian Classic https://www.indigo.ca/products/the-wealthy-barber-2025-indigo-exclusive The Wealthy Barber https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wealthy_Barber Steve Saretsky: Canadian Real Estate—CRAZY Times Have Led to CRAZY Times | TWB Podcast #26 Why Developers Only Seem to Build McMansions https://youtu.be/doxJHEqiuV0?si=nqMJgAb9jNlT4e4Y Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Why Everyone Is Fighting Over Bike Lanes | 18 Sep 2026 | 00:22:41 | |
How did bike lanes become the ultimate political wedge issue? In this episode of DemograFix, Cara Stern sits down with Tom Babin, urban cycling advocate and creator of the YouTube channel Shifter, to break down the growing "bike-lash" across Canada and the U.S. From provincial overrides in Ontario and Alberta to the culture wars dividing suburban drivers and downtown commuters, we explore why bike infrastructure generates such intense debate. We dive into the math behind induced demand, the reality of winter cycling, why "road diets" actually work, and how cities can design better, safer streets for everyone. Chapters: 00:00:00 The Bike Lane Culture War 00:03:10 Bike Lanes & Politics: Evidence vs. Fact 00:05:03 How Amalgamation Ruined Everything 00:06:29 Do Anti-Bike Policies Actually Win Votes? 00:08:11 Why Biking Belongs on Both Sides of Politics 00:09:22 Debunking the "Empty Bike Lane" Myth 00:11:03 Why Pro-Bike Campaigns Are Failing in Suburbs 00:12:48 Ravine Trails vs. Real Urban Mobility 00:14:27 Do Winter Bike Lanes Actually Work? 00:15:54 The "One More Lane" Traffic Fallacy 00:17:47 Why Canadian Cities Build Bad Infrastructure 00:19:50 The "Road Diet" Fix Research/links: Ontario just made a ruling that could inform bike lane removal cases across Canada Removing bike lanes will cost at least $48M: city staff report Government of Alberta: Report concerns about bike lanes Edmonton council approves $100M for bike infrastructure across city Guest Tom Babin's official urban cycling and commuting YouTube channel Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Canada Joins the EU? | 16 Sep 2026 | 00:49:06 | |
This week, Prime Minister Mark Carney will address the European Parliament in an effort to "create greater certainty, security, and prosperity for our peoples." Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports that Canada is seeking to become an "Associate Member" of the European Union. In our Answer Period livestream, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt will be talking about the benefits and drawbacks of a closer association with the European Union, what an associate membership could look like, and take viewer questions. Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Canada Could Build Better Homes AND Make Them Cheaper | 09 Sep 2026 | 00:26:27 | |
Why is Canadian housing so expensive and why are we getting so little for our money? In this episode of the Missing Middle Podcast, Mike Moffatt talks with Adam Mongrain of More and Better Housing about how Canada can build more affordable, better-quality homes while also tackling climate change and housing affordability. They dig into why Canada struggles to build the “missing middle” housing that exists in cities around the world, and how zoning rules, building codes, construction costs and a lack of standardization are making it harder and more expensive to build the homes Canadians actually want. Adam explains why legalizing density isn’t about deregulation, how European-style housing could help lower costs, why Canadian elevators can cost four times as much as comparable ones in Switzerland, and how modern construction methods could transform the housing market. They also discuss climate-resilient housing, the need for millions more social and not-for-profit homes, and the five “game changers” that More and Better Housing believes could help Canada build more and build better. Chapters: 00:00 — Why Is Missing Middle Housing Missing? 02:27 — What Does “More and Better Housing” Mean? 04:51 — Can Better Housing Also Be More Affordable? 07:43 — Why New Housing Isn’t Worth the Price 11:23 — What Does “Legalizing Density” Actually Mean? 15:37 — How Building Codes Drive Up Housing Costs 19:14 — Why Factory-Built Housing Needs New Standards 21:57 — Building Housing for a Changing Climate 23:27 — Can Canada Afford Millions of Nonprofit Homes? Research/links: More and Better Housing Canada website: https://www.moreandbetterhousing.ca/ This is how we could fix a problem Canada has been overlooking for decadeshttps://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/this-is-how-we-could-fix-a-problem-canada-has-been-overlooking-for-decades/article_6970b764-8d33-4d7d-87d6-be8efea8038c.html Blueprint for More and Better Housing: https://housingandclimate.ca/blueprint/ Four Pathways to Housing Affordability report: https://housingandclimate.ca/2024/11/19/fourpathways/ Credits Mike Moffatt https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt https://bsky.app/profile/mikepmoffatt.bsky.social Sabrina Maddeaux https://x.com/SabrinaMaddeaux Meredith Martin https://twitter.com/meredithmartin https://bsky.app/profile/meredithmartin.bsky.social Sean Foreman @seanegertonforeman https://bsky.app/profile/seanforeman.bsky.social Cara Stern https://x.com/carastern https://bsky.app/profile/carastern.bsky.social University Of Ottawa Co-op Student: Kelly Hoban Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/ Brought to you by the Missing Middle Initiative https://www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Should Parents Get the Right to Vote for Their Kids? | 04 Sep 2026 | 00:23:48 | |
Are Canadian elections actually fair if 7 million citizens are completely excluded from the process? In this episode of The Missing Middle, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt unpack the hidden flaw in Canada’s electoral system: the complete disenfranchisement of children and young people. As Canada’s population ages, politicians are incentivized to cater to older voters while ignoring the long-term economic interests of younger generations. We explore a radical yet historical solution: proxy voting. What if parents could cast ballots on behalf of their children? Could giving every citizen a voice from birth fix our policy incentives? And is it an impossible reform? Chapters: 00:00 - Should Children Have a Vote in Canada? 03:34 - How Demographic Voting Shapes Economic Policy 05:48 - The Issue With Relying on Youth Voter Turnout to Solve Things 08:13 - What Is Proxy Voting for Parents? 10:22 - Would Proxy Voting Lead to Family-Friendly Policy? 12:17 - Can We Trust Parents to Vote in Their Child's Interest? 14:49 - Early Civic Engagement and Primary Caregiver Voting Rules 17:52 - Is Electoral Reform Truly Realistic in Canada? 22:52 - Why Power Disincentivizes Democratic Change Research/Links: Vlandas study: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/980470 Tobi Lutke’s idea that pensioners be excluded from voting is offensive. The concern behind it isn’t https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/article-tobi-lutke-shopify-tech-pensioners-vote/ How to give children the vote https://milescorak.com/2012/04/20/how-to-give-children-the-vote/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Citizenship as a privilege or as a right: should children be given the vote? Should Children be Given the Vote?: Miles Corak at TEDxWaterloo 2013 https://youtu.be/anYFFlOtZKo?si=PYrUE7U_0RFuK2-y Should children vote? I argue that there are reasonable ways to give children the vote in an interview with CBC radio Why we should give children the vote Do Husbands and Wives Pool Their Resources? Evidence from the United Kingdom Child Benefit https://www.jstor.org/stable/146179?origin=crossref&seq=1 Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| We Want 1.5 Million New Homes. But Can We Power Them? | 02 Sep 2026 | 00:12:47 | |
Ontario has pledged to build 1.5 million new homes by 2031, but can our power grid actually handle the demand? In this episode of Classonomics, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down the $100B–$120B "last mile" infrastructure crisis quietly halting major housing projects across the province, including thousands of stalled homes in Brooklin, Whitby, and Ajax. From the historical legacy of Sir Adam Beck’s publicly owned hydro model to modern electrification demands like EVs and heat pumps, we discuss why developers are being pushed to fund local grid expansions and what policy fixes, such as tax-exempt utility bonds and reforming the tax code’s 90/10 rule, can keep Ontario’s housing goals alive. Topics Covered:
#OntarioHousing #CanadianPolitics #HousingCrisis #EnergyGrid #Infrastructure #TheMissingMiddle #SabrinaMaddeaux #MikeMoffatt Chapters: 00:00 Can Ontario's Grid Power 1.5 Million Homes? 01:43 The "Last Mile" Bottleneck & Stalled Developments 04:00 EV Demand & Ontario's Electrification History 05:29 Public Utilities vs. "Pay for Growth" 07:14 Local Distribution Companies & Funding Friction 10:11 Two Policy Solutions to Fix Grid Financing 12:07 Final Thoughts & Outro Research/links: North America’s electricity grid is ready to grow. Manufacturers needed to build it are placing their bets Electrical Load map: https://oeb.planview.ca/Ontario-capacity-map/ Debt/Deficit MissingMiddle Episode referred to in video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2zza3GwZ7E Why a multibillion-dollar electricity infrastructure gap is threatening Ontario’s housing goals Tracking housing supply progress https://www.ontario.ca/page/tracking-housing-supply-progress#section-0 Ontario Launches Expert Panel to Strengthen Local Electricity Distribution 2025 Ontario Economic - Outlook and Fiscal Review https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oTK_RueWPjD1Oc1YXVlT8nslnx9Ue_w6/view Forward Guidance: Canada’s Energy Future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bySyMcg-p_4 Adam Beck https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-adam-beck Build Faster Fund https://opencouncil.ca/program/building-faster-fund/ An early history of hydroelectric power in Niagara Falls https://nflibrary.ca/articles/an-early-history-of-hydroelectric-power-in-niagara-falls Ontario’s electric history https://thevarsity.ca/2026/02/03/ontarios-electric-history/ To Build More Homes, Ontario Launching Building Faster Fund and Expanding Strong Mayor Powers Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Trump, Tariffs and Canada’s Next Move | 28 Aug 2026 | 00:46:52 | |
Canada’s trade relationship with the United States is facing major challenges. In this replay of a live episode recorded on Friday August 28, Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern break down Canada’s trade war with the U.S., the impact of tariffs, and what it all means for the Canadian economy. They explore how tariffs and trade tensions could affect Canadian jobs, businesses, inflation, housing, taxation, financial markets, and economic stability while answering questions directly from the live audience. Whether you’re a policymaker, investor, business owner, or simply trying to understand what’s happening to Canada’s economy, this conversation offers context and analysis on some of the biggest economic issues facing Canadians today. In this episode:
Watch the full conversation for an in-depth discussion of Canada’s economic outlook and the challenges ahead. #Canada #CanadianEconomy #Tariffs #TradeWar #USCanada #CanadianPolitics #Housing #Economy #Inflation #MikeMoffatt #CaraStern Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the Trade Dispute 02:12 Tariffs and the New NAFTA 04:23 Labeling, Language, and Trade Strategy 06:40 Canada's Trade Diversification Challenges 08:36 Taxing the Wealthy and Intergenerational Equity 12:30 Interprovincial Trade Barriers and Alcohol 16:38 Impacts on Housing and Construction 23:57 US Bonds and Canadian Investment 36:12 Bank of Canada and Interest Rate Policy 42:17 Government Support for Small Housing 44:37 Development Charges and Urban Planning 46:21 Closing Remarks and Next Steps Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Why Developers Only Seem to Build McMansions | 26 Aug 2026 | 00:19:15 | |
Ever wonder why it's nearly impossible to find a brand-new, modest starter home? In this episode of Classonomics, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down the real-world housing economics driving the extinction of small detached homes across Canada and why developers are practically forced to build McMansions instead. From flat municipal fees to setback regulations and astronomical land costs, we run through the numbers we explain why smaller homes no longer make financial sense for builders, and what policy changes could actually fix it.
Chapters: 00:00 Small Detached Homes Are Disappearing 02:02 Why Developers Don’t Build Smaller Homes 03:01 The Real Cost of Building a Small Home 05:27 Why Land Costs Favour Bigger Houses 07:43 How Lot Rules Make Small Homes Harder to Build 09:33 How to Bring Down the Cost of Land 10:12 Development Charges Favour Bigger Homes 13:39 Why Bigger Homes Have Lower Construction Costs 16:15 The Costs That Don’t Shrink With the House 17:47 Why a $600K Home Costs So Much Research: https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=311483 Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Why Fertility Treatment Usage Is Exploding in Canada | 21 Aug 2026 | 00:14:25 | |
Fertility treatment is becoming increasingly common in Canada. But why? On this episode of DemograFix, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt dig into the dramatic rise of IVF and fertility treatment in Canada, and what it tells us about how Canadians are building families. IVF births in Ontario have nearly doubled as a share of all live births since 2014, while the average age of patients starting IVF has climbed past 35. As Canadians spend longer in school, establish careers later, face higher housing and living costs, and delay parenthood, more people are turning to fertility treatment to help build the families they want. But access to fertility care can depend heavily on where you live. Cara and Mike look at the geographic lottery of fertility treatment, differences in provincial funding, long waitlists, workplace benefits, and the often-overlooked costs of IVF, including time away from work and travel for treatment. The bigger question is what happens when more Canadians are trying to have children later in life. Is Canada's fertility system prepared for growing demand? And should policymakers be looking beyond IVF to the housing, career and economic pressures that are pushing parenthood later? #IVF #Fertility #Canada #Demographics #FertilityTreatment #Ontario Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:42 The Economic Reality of Delayed Parenthood 01:28 Why is Fertility Treatment Usage Up? 02:44 Biology and Success Rates 03:08 Analyzing the Data Surge 04:16 The Geographic Lottery of Fertility Access 05:22 The Biological Realities 06:41 The Myth of Fertility Control 07:44 Rising Complications in Younger Patients 08:27 Male Factor Infertility 08:42 The High Cost of Treatment and Waitlists 10:03 The Hidden Costs (Time & Travel) 11:34 Workplace Benefits and Trends 12:01 Recap and Future Outlook 13:01 Policy Responses and Root Causes Research/links: Publicly funded in-vitro fertilization (IVF) program - Province of British Columbia Canadian assisted reproductive technologies registry CARTR PLUs annual report CARTR Reports - Canadian Fertility & Andrology Society Provincial coverage | Fertility Matters Canada https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1007375/ontario-connecting-more-families-to-fertility-supports https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/in-vitro-fertilization-market Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Are Young and Old People Voting for Different Futures? | 19 Aug 2026 | 00:22:13 | |
Are Canada’s politics becoming less about left versus right and more about young versus old? In this episode of Classonomics, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux explore the growing generational divide in Canadian politics and what it means for the economy, housing, and the future of democracy. They examine why older voters may prioritize inflation, pensions, and asset prices, while younger Canadians increasingly feel shut out of homeownership, economic growth, and traditional institutions. Topics covered:
#Canada #CanadianPolitics #HousingCrisis #GenerationalDivide #Economy #Politics #HousingAffordability #Millennials #GenZ #MissingMiddle 00:00 — Is Age Breaking Our Politics? 03:26 — The Generational Divide Is Reshaping Politics 06:22 — Why Voters Are Choosing Their Own Wallets Over Growth 10:14 — Why Older and Younger Voters Want Different Things 13:17 — Why Politicians Want to Keep Home Prices High 16:08 — Why Young People Are Losing Faith in the System 17:26 — How Economic Frustration Fuels Populism 20:33 — Why Young Voters Are Turning to Extremes 21:03 — How to Make the Economy Work for Young People Research: Beer question: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_question Vlandas study: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/980470 German research: https://www.kielinstitut.de/publications/kiel-focus/the-economic-consequences-of-populism/ Tobi Lutke’s idea that pensioners be excluded from voting is offensive. The concern behind it isn’t https://www.theglobeandmail.com/authors/mike-moffatt/ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| The Secret to Building Family-Friendly Housing in Existing Neighbourhoods | 14 Aug 2026 | 00:25:32 | |
Canada needs more housing, but building in existing neighbourhoods often faces strong local opposition. Could gentle density be a solution? In this episode of DemograFix, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt discuss how infill housing, form-based zoning, and streamlined regulations could help Canada build more family-friendly homes while balancing concerns about neighbourhood character, infrastructure, parking, and density. They also examine multiplex debates in Toronto and Calgary, and whether zoning reform and condo rules are limiting new homeownership opportunities. Topics covered:
Chapters: 00:00 – Canada’s Housing Problem and the Case for Gentle Density 01:25 – The Three Ways Cities Can Build More Housing 03:00 – Why Multiplexes Face Local Opposition 04:35 – Toronto’s Controversial Station Road Eightplex 06:15 – Calgary’s Upzoning Rollback 07:30 – What Is Gentle Density? 08:20 – Objection #1: Buildings Are Too Tall 09:35 – Form-Based Zoning Explained 11:05 – Zoning vs. Building Codes 12:15 – Objection #2: Buildings Are Too Large 13:05 – Objection #3: Parking and Infrastructure 14:25 – Can Gentle Density Benefit Existing Homeowners? 16:10 – Tiny Homes and Pocket Neighbourhoods 17:25 – Does Density Mean More Rental Housing? 19:00 – Making Small-Scale Homeownership Easier 20:25 – What Canada Can Learn From B.C. and Oregon 21:45 – Where Should Gentle Density Start? 23:00 – Can Gentle Density Actually Get Political Support? 24:15 – NIMBYs vs. YIMBYs: Is Gentle Density Too Mild? 25:00 – Moving Beyond Arbitrary Unit Counts Research/links: MMI Gentle Density Report: https://www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/p/from-policy-gridlock-to-housing-growth NIMBYs will Fight Even the Gentlest of Density https://youtu.be/6WavljFV7fM?si=geir1FhAbhdgliv_ Nightmare on Craven Road: When Local Politics Derail Citywide Housing Goals https://youtu.be/qVQ4gQRnOss?si=RFywNBKZedLERiuj 2025 Statcan Study: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/36-28-0001/2025005/article/00003-eng.htm 2026 Statcan Study: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/46-28-0001/2026001/article/00002-eng.htm Toronto: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/04/22/etobicoke-eightplex-site-mimico-residents-developer-toronto/ Calgary: https://calgary.citynews.ca/2026/04/22/calgary-federal-housing-funds/ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Why Are Young People Paying for Wealthy Seniors? | 12 Aug 2026 | 00:17:54 | |
Canada’s growing debt isn’t just a problem for governments; it could shape the future for younger generations. Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt explore how government debt, Old Age Security (OAS), and spending choices shift wealth between generations. They discuss whether wealthy seniors should receive full OAS benefits and how younger Canadians may be paying more through higher taxes, housing costs, and rising debt. While not all debt is harmful, borrowing for long-term investments like infrastructure, transit, housing, and energy can be beneficial, borrowing to sustain costly programs is more controversial and raises questions about long-term fiscal sustainability. The key question: Is Canada placing too much of the financial burden on younger generations? Topics covered: Chapters: 01:28 OAS: The $100 Billion Problem Hiding in the Budget 02:09 Why Wealthy Seniors Still Get Old Age Security 03:28 When Government Debt Is Actually a Good Thing 05:29 Who Should Pay for Infrastructure That Lasts 100 Years? 06:00 The Gordie Howe Bridge and the Case for Government Debt 06:53 The Truth About How Government Debt Gets Paid Off 08:49 Why Canada’s Growing Debt Still Matters 09:16 How Government Debt Can Fuel Inflation 10:18 What Happens When Governments Can’t Borrow? 11:38 Why Deficits Are Especially Dangerous for OAS 12:08 Should Canada Cut Old Age Security? 13:10 Are Younger Canadians Giving Up on Canada? 13:58 There’s No Easy Way to Fix the Intergenerational Wealth Gap 14:55 Why Younger Canadians Want Lower Taxes 16:20 Why Tax Cuts Aren’t Fixing the Generational Divide 16:46 When Government Debt Makes Sense—and When It Doesn’t Research/Links: As Canada faces crippling debt, it must do the unpopular thing and cut elderly benefits https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-canada-debt-cut-elderly-benefits/ Scott Gallowy Short: https://youtube.com/shorts/PAAbLq1bJY0?si=9-Z06rW1H8tiQW-k Canadian taxpayers face up to $3,348 each in government debt interest The Burdens of borrowing: Government debt and intergenerational fairness https://www.if.org.uk/2025/01/28/the-burdens-of-borrowing-government-debt-and-intergenerational-fairness/ https://www.reuters.com/world/china/g7-debt-is-now-pressure-point-anxious-markets-2025-06-03/ The evolution of federal debt interest costs in Canada https://www.fraserinstitute.org/commentary/evolution-federal-debt-interest-costs-canada Canada’s combined federal-provincial government debt estimated to surpass $2.4 trillion in 2025/26 https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/growing-debt-burden-canadians-2026-edition Intergenerational Injustice in Canadian Public Finance https://www.gensqueeze.ca/intergenerational_injustice_in_canadian_public_finance Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Is Outdated Parental Leave to Blame for Canada's Fertility Crisis? | 05 Aug 2026 | 00:20:06 | |
Canada’s parental leave system was built for a workforce that no longer exists. As work and family life have changed, the policy hasn’t, leaving more parents without the support they need. Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Why Suburbs Will Stay in High Demand for Decades | 31 Jul 2026 | 00:19:55 | |
Many people assume Canada’s suburbs are destined to decline as Baby Boomers age and younger generations embrace urban living. But does the data actually support that? Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| The Surprising Way Greenbelts Can Increase Urban Sprawl | 29 Jul 2026 | 00:14:45 | |
Canada has spent decades trying to curb urban sprawl through policies like greenbelts, urban growth boundaries, and higher development charges, but what if those policies are having the opposite effect? Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Three Kids Are the New Status Symbol | 17 Jul 2026 | 00:19:16 | |
Has having three kids become a status symbol in Canada? In this episode of DemograFix, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt explore why having three children has become a luxury for many middle-class Canadian families. From the cost of family-sized housing to childcare, career sacrifices, transportation, and the changing expectations placed on parents, they break down why so many families stop at two, even when they wanted more. The conversation also looks at Canadian and international research on fertility, Quebec's childcare experiment, why family-sized homes have almost disappeared from our cities, and what governments would actually need to change if they want Canadians to have the families they hope for. If you've ever wondered why three kids now feels like a status symbol, this episode explains the economics behind it. Topics covered:
Chapters: 00:00 Why 3 Kids Are Becoming a Rich Person's Luxury 00:58 When Families Become Status Symbols 03:03 The Housing Crisis is Eliminating the Third Child 05:09 Canada Stopped Building Family Homes 06:28 The Big Childcare Problem 07:55 Does Cheap Childcare Actually Boost Birth Rates? 12:15 The Real Cost of a Third Baby 15:07 Families Are Being Forced Out of Cities 17:20 How Canada Could Make Three Kids Affordable Again Research/links: https://ifstudies.org/blog/more-crowding-fewer-babies-the-effects-of-housing-density-on-fertility The ultimate status symbol? A big family https://www.ft.com/content/a4025e93-7552-4f8f-8ce2-e785a7d950a4?syn-25a6b1a6=1 Opinion | Three Kids? You Showoffs. - The Washington Post Why are some families with children leaving the inner city and other staying? https://www.scup.com/doi/10.18261/njus.2.1.2 https://www.cardus.ca/research/family/reports/home-alone/ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Is Chasing Too Many New Homes Canada’s Next Big Failure? | 15 Jul 2026 | 00:14:38 | |
Is 500,000 new homes a year really what Canada needs to solve the housing crisis? In this episode of the Missing Middle’s Classonomics Podcast, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux examine whether Canada's headline housing targets still make sense now that immigration has slowed and population growth has changed. They discuss why housing starts can be a misleading metric, why the type of housing being built matters just as much as the number of homes, and what governments should actually measure if the goal is restoring affordability. Topics covered:
Subscribe for more conversations on housing, affordability, economics, and public policy. Chapters: 00:00 - Does Canada Really Need 500,000 Homes a Year? Research/links The Impossible Trinity that Broke Canadian Housing The Housing Trilemma: Why You Can't Afford a Home https://www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/p/the-housing-trilemma-why-you-cant Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Is the Temporary Foreign Worker Program Hurting Young People? | 10 Jul 2026 | 00:21:54 | |
When a business faces a labour shortage, the free market says they should raise wages. So why is Canada’s government stepping in to make labour cheaper instead? In this episode of The Missing Middle, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt dive into how Canada's low-wage Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program and the explosion of international student work caps have completely disrupted the laws of supply and demand. As Canadian youth face historic unemployment rates, we break down how corporate lobbying and government policy created a cheat code that insulates businesses from capitalism, while pushing young workers off the first rung of the career ladder. From the housing crisis in Alberta's mountain tourist towns to Tim Hortons' recent PR scramble, we expose the loop of corporate reliance on exploitable temporary labor and ask: how do we let the market actually fix itself? Topics covered:
#Canada #YouthUnemployment #TemporaryForeignWorkers #Jobs #CanadianEconomy #LabourMarket #Economics #Immigration #PublicPolicy #MissingMiddle Chapters: 00:00 - The Free Market Myth in Canada Research/links: Tourist towns ‘desperate’ for workers in Alberta Tim Hortons says it will hire locals, scale back temporary foreign workers https://globalnews.ca/news/11863474/tim-hortons-temporary-foreign-workers/ Youth unemployment in Canada jumped 57% in 3 years, hitting levels previously unseen outside a recession Youth unemployment in Canada near record highs since 2022; unprecedented levels outside of a recession https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/extraordinary-increase-youth-unemployment-canada
https://cdhowe.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/commentary_407.pdf StatsCan: Drayton Valley statistical area sees lowest unemployment in Alberta at 4.9 per cent Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Programs - The Canadian Encyclopedia https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadas-temporary-foreign-worker-programs Businesses face new limits on temporary foreign worker program https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tfw-program-new-limits-1.7333777 3 problems with the temporary foreign worker program and 3 possible fixes, according to experts https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/temporary-foreign-worker-program-fixes-1.7633045 Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Why Return-to-Office Didn't Bring Canadians Back to Big Cities | 08 Jul 2026 | 00:19:37 | |
Why are so many young Canadian families leaving Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal? Even after return-to-office mandates, the exodus from Canada's largest cities continues. In this episode of Classonomics, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux explore the data behind Canada's urban migration trends and debate why affordability isn't the only factor driving people away. They discuss housing costs, crime and public safety, mental health, community, urban planning, and whether government policies are making sprawl even worse. Topics covered:
Chapters: 00:00 The Great Canadian Family Exodus Research/links: Housing is a large part of the story. The OECD has examined this: As has Statistics Canada: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/241119/dq241119b-eng.htm Remote Work and Employment Dynamics under COVID-19: Evidence from Canada https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7971424/ Upjohn Institute: https://www.upjohn.org/remote-works-quiet-impact-rural-communities C.D. Howe: https://cdhowe.org/publication/settling-new-normal-working-home-across-canada/ Social ties and quality of life, including lower rates of depression: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2025002/article/00003-eng.htm https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20376426/ Though evidence is nuanced: https://www.cmaj.ca/content/184/17/E889 Crime and disorder: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2025001/article/00005-eng.htm McDonald-Laurier Report: https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Urban-Violent-Crime-Report_Final.pdf Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| From EI to Daycare: Navigating Parental Leave in Canada | 03 Jul 2026 | 00:17:09 | |
Thinking about taking parental leave in Canada? In this episode of DemograFix Cara Stern talks with Jasmine Steffler (from Walkable Parenthood and Oh The Urbanity!) about her experience navigating parental leave. From understanding benefits and income replacement to finding childcare, building community, and adjusting to life with a new baby, Cara and Jasmine know what it takes to grow a family in Canada. If you're expecting a child or planning a family, this conversation covers many of the practical questions parents have before taking leave: ✅ How parental leave and EI benefits work in Canada ✅ The difference between 12- and 18-month leave options ✅ Why Quebec's parental leave system is different ✅ How much income you can expect while on leave ✅ Finding daycare and understanding childcare costs ✅ Building community and avoiding isolation during leave ✅ Life with a baby in a walkable city without owning a car ✅ What we wish we knew before taking leave Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Canadian Parental Leave 00:48 Understanding Parental Leave Policies 02:29 Choosing the Length of Leave 02:51 The Quebec Parental Insurance Plan vs. Other Provinces 05:08 Navigating the Childcare System 06:15 Financial Challenges and Income Replacement 07:50 Walking and Cycling Without a Car 10:19 Finding Community During Parental Leave 12:50 Lessons Learned and Future Considerations 15:55 Traveling with a Young Child 16:49 Conclusion and Outro Research/links: The effect of leave policies on increasing fertility: a systematic review | Humanities and Social Sciences Communications https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-022-01270-w (PDF) Does Parental Leave Affect Fertility and Return-to-Work? Evidence from a "True Natural Experiment" The Daily — Fertility and baby names, 2024 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250924/dq250924d-eng.htm Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| What We Love About Canada | Canada Day Special 2026 | 01 Jul 2026 | 00:09:11 | |
Happy Canada Day! In this special Canada Day episode of The Missing Middle Podcast, the team takes a break from focusing on Canada's challenges to share what makes them optimistic about the country's future. From housing reforms and immigration to education, community, nature, and Canadian values, each member reflects on what they love most about Canada and why they remain hopeful. Topics covered:
What makes you optimistic about Canada? Let us know in the comments below. #CanadaDay #Canada #TheMissingMiddle #CanadaHousing #CanadianEconomy #CanadianValues Chapters: YouTube Chapters (8:52) 00:00 Why We're Talking About Optimism This Canada Day Research/Links: A History of Tommy Thompson Park https://trca.ca/news/tommy-thompson-park-history/ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Why Canada Stopped Building Homes for Families | 26 Jun 2026 | 00:24:33 | |
For years, Canada's housing strategy focused on increasing the number of housing units built. But even during periods of record apartment construction, family-sized homes became increasingly scarce. In this episode of the Demografix, Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern unpack a major problem hidden inside Canada's housing statistics: the country is building fewer family-sized homes than it did 20 years ago. Why are three-bedroom homes becoming so difficult to find? Why are developers building more small condos instead of homes for families? And how do zoning rules, development charges, land shortages, and housing policies shape what gets built? The conversation explores: • Why housing "units" and housing "homes" are not the same thing If Canada wants cities that work for young families, workers, and future generations, we need to start measuring success by more than just the number of housing units built. Chapters: 00:55 What Families Actually Need In A Home 02:00 Why Three-Bedroom Apartments Are So Rare 04:09 Why Condos Stop Making Sense For Families 05:00 Canada Is Building Fewer Family-Sized Homes 07:06 The Problem With Counting “Units” Instead Of Homes 09:03 Who Shoebox Condos Actually Work For 10:07 If Demand Is Strong, Why Aren’t Builders Responding? 12:14 Why The GTA Builds Fewer Family Homes 14:02 Urban Boundaries, Sprawl, And Long Commutes 15:16 Taxes And Fees That Favor McMansions 16:52 Why Developers Don’t Build Family-Sized Apartments 18:28 Housing Costs, Birth Rates, And Families Leaving Cities 22:05 How Canada Could Fix Family Housing Research/links: From Policy Gridlock to Housing Growth: A Roadmap for Gentle Density https://www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/p/from-policy-gridlock-to-housing-growth Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| FIFA Gets the Profits. Canadians Get the Bill. | 24 Jun 2026 | 00:20:46 | |
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here and Canada is on a roll! But as the excitement builds on the pitch, we're asking the tough questions: will this massive event actually deliver the economic win that was promised? In this episode, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux dive into the real costs of hosting the world's biggest party. They break down the billion-dollar price tags, FIFA's business model, and whether taxpayers are getting stuck with the bill while others reap the rewards. (Producer note: This episode was recorded on June 5th, 2026.) Topics covered:
If you enjoy thoughtful discussions on housing, infrastructure, public policy, and the economic issues affecting Canada's middle class, subscribe for more episodes from The Missing Middle. Chapters: 00:00 The World Cup's Economic Myth Research: BMO Capital Markets -- Canada World Cup GDP boost (up to $6.5B): https://www.wealthprofessional.ca/news/industry-news/bmo-world-cup-2026-set-to-deliver-up-to-c65-billion-economic-boost-for-canada/392593 The World Cup is expensive, but it’s our turn to pick up the tab ProPublica -- 'You do, you pay, we take': how FIFA's host city deals work: https://www.propublica.org/article/world-cup-2026-host-cities-revenue-houston CBC -- FIFA/Deloitte economic impact assessment for Canada ($3.8B figure): https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/world-cup-2026-canada-fifa-economic-benefits-1.7406435 BNN Bloomberg -- Why economic impact on Vancouver and Toronto may never be known: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/economics/2026/05/11/blind-side-why-world-cup-economic-impact-on-vancouver-and-toronto-may-never-be-known/ Bloomberg Tax -- FIFA 2026 World Cup tax demands on host countries: https://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-management-international/fifa-2026-world-cup-blows-the-whistle-on-complex-tax-risks CP24 -- Toronto holds transit fares steady; NJ Transit $48M bill; Boston $80 game-day fare: https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2026/04/16/toronto-will-not-hike-cost-of-transit-during-world-cup-as-other-host-cities-announce-big-fare-increases-to-venues/ ESPN -- World Cup ticket sticker shock and dynamic pricing: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48947095/2026-fifa-world-cup-sticker-shock-ugly-cost-beautiful-game-grand-event Victor Matheson / Holy Cross -- The Economics of the World Cup (academic; stadium white elephants, tourism overestimates): https://hcapps.holycross.edu/hcs/RePEc/hcx/HC1805-Matheson_WorldCup.pdf Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| "Wait Until 2060": Canada's Housing Plan for Young People | 19 Jun 2026 | 00:19:36 | |
Canada's Federal Housing Advocate says it could take until 2060 for all Canadians to have access to an affordable home. Is that just a realistic target? And is it reasonable to ask an entire generation to give up on their homeownership dreams for the next 3.5 decades? This week on DemograFix, Mike and Cara dive into the idea of “housing triage”: should governments focus on ending homelessness first, then tackle affordable housing for low-income Canadians, and only later address the middle-class housing crisis? Or is that a false choice? They discuss: Can we afford to prioritize one housing crisis over another? Or does solving the housing shortage mean tackling them all at once? #Housing #CanadaHousing #HousingCrisis #RealEstate #AffordableHousing #Homeownership #CanadianPolitics #HousingPolicy #MissingMiddlePodcast Chapters: 00:00 Housing Triage: Who Should Be Helped First? 00:01 What Is the Federal Housing Advocate? 00:03 Why the Report Says Housing Won't Be Affordable Until 2060 00:05 Should Young Canadians Accept a Lifetime of Unaffordability? 00:07 The Flaw in Treating Housing Like a Zero-Sum Game 00:09 Why Building More Homes Helps Reduce Homelessness 00:11 Can Canada Solve the Housing Crisis Within a Decade? 00:13 Why Governments Keep Missing Housing Targets 00:14 The Politics of Lower Home Prices 00:17 What Happens If Young Canadians Give Up on Canada? Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| This Court Ruling Could Change Property Ownership in Canada: Steve Saretsky | 17 Jun 2026 | 00:34:34 | |
Canada’s housing market is entering a major shift. In this episode, Mike Moffatt sits down with Vancouver realtor and Loonie Hour host Steve Saretsky to break down the growing cracks in Canada’s real estate market — from falling condo prices and rising vacancy rates to investor selloffs, rent control, and the political fallout surrounding B.C.’s controversial Cowichan land title ruling. They also compare the housing markets in Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary, and discuss what’s next for affordability, development, immigration-driven demand, and the future of housing policy in Canada. Topics covered: Chapters: 0:00 Canada’s Housing Market Is Shifting Fast Research links: The Cowichan ruling isn’t a threat to private property https://policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/12/cowichan-land-ruling-explained/ To recognize aboriginal title is not to abolish property rights, but to uphold them What the Musqueam rights recognition agreement means and what it doesn’t Real-estate firm bulk buys $30 million of downtown Toronto condos: ‘They’re sitting empty’ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Will Baby Boomers Leave Behind a Housing Glut? | 12 Jun 2026 | 00:23:27 | |
Many Canadians believe that when Baby Boomers leave their homes, a flood of houses will hit the market and solve the housing crisis. In this episode, Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern explore why that outcome is far from certain, examining the roles of immigration, population growth, housing supply, and changing housing preferences in shaping Canada's future. Topics Covered: #HousingCrisis #CanadaHousing #RealEstate #HousingAffordability #Immigration #HousingMarket #CanadianEconomy #MissingMiddlePodcast Chapters: 00:00 Will Baby Boomers Solve the Housing Crisis? Research/links: Mike’s piece at the Globe: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/article-housing-baby-boomers-suburban-homes-young-families/ Statcan population projections: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1710005801 Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Toronto’s Housing Crisis Explained with Ron Butler | Live Event | 10 Jun 2026 | 00:56:23 | |
Toronto’s housing crisis is no longer just about buying a home, it’s reshaping who can afford to build a future in the city at all. In this special live taping of The Missing Middle Podcast, Sabrina Maddeaux, Mike Moffatt, Cara Stern, and special guest Ron Butler unpack why young families are leaving Toronto, how policy failures created a city of “dog crate” condos and unaffordable homes, and what needs to change before affordability gets even worse. Topics covered include: Subscribe for more conversations on housing, affordability, and the future of Canada’s middle class. Chapters: 0:00 – Live From Toronto: The Housing Crisis Debate Begins Research: ‘It’s not like we’re sitting on our hands.’ Toronto’s biggest landlord sees 7 more complexes fall into critical disrepair Drug deals in doorways and a stranger in the living room: Why Toronto Community Housing residents say its $38M security force is failing them Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Why Strong Communities Don’t Happen by Accident | 05 Jun 2026 | 00:21:50 | |
Why does modern life feel so disconnected? In this episode, Cara Stern sits down with journalist and Scout leader Harrison Lowman to talk about the decline of community in Canada, and what it takes to rebuild it. From scouting and volunteering to neighbourhood pubs, churches, and “third spaces,” they explore why strong communities don’t happen automatically, how urban design shapes social connection, and why so many people feel isolated despite living closer together than ever before. They also discuss parenting, trust, loneliness, suburban life, condo living, and the importance of showing up for your neighbours. Topics covered:
Subscribe for more conversations on housing, cities, policy, and the future of Canada. Chapters: 00:00 Why Community Is More Than Good Urban Design Research/links: » Volunteer wellbeing: what works and who benefits? https://whatworkswellbeing.org/resources/volunteer-wellbeing-what-works-and-who-benefits/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10159229/ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Answering Your Biggest Questions About Canada’s Housing Crisis | 03 Jun 2026 | 00:16:46 | |
Why are young Canadians leaving cities? Why are seniors staying in homes that are too big for them? And can Canada lower housing costs without cutting quality of life even further? In this listener Q&A episode of The Missing Middle, Sabrina Maddeaux and Cara Stern answer audience questions on housing affordability, immigration, downsizing, social isolation, wage stagnation, the Greenbelt, and why building more “missing middle” housing has become so difficult in Canada. Topics covered:
If you enjoy the episode, subscribe and leave a comment with your own question for a future mailbag episode. Seniors are lonely, rich, and live in houses that are too big, often in desirable neighbourhoods. Young people are desperate for housing, poor, and looking for roommates. Why not create a tax incentive for seniors to free up rooms in their houses for young people? I think a vacancy tax is punitive, but a tax incentive could unlock housing in a win-win (rather than zero sum) way for willing participants. Thoughts?
In your second-time homebuyer article you mention that various government initiatives could lower newly built housing costs by up to 15% which would free up more family sized homes "making it easier for seniors to downsize". How would lowering the cost of newly built homes by 15% make it easier for seniors to downsize? In my view, the more significant factor facing senior downsizers is not the cost of new housing but the scarcity of appealing post-move options for them.
I am a boomer with two millennial children who haven't yet reached middle-class milestones like stable employment or homeownership. I believe factors other than parental status are at play: 1) Are houses more expensive, or are incomes simply failing to keep up with declining purchasing power? 2) Given the rise in single-person households, why is there so much social isolation, and how does the difficulty of making connections in urban environments impact the ability for young people to save and enter the housing market?
Is the Greenbelt even practical for "affordable" housing, or does it only provide more land for luxury country estates?
Isn't the obvious solution here to keep immigration low for the next few years to keep pressuring rents lower? Wouldn't this be the easiest solution to help affordability for everyone? I see what is happening to those under 25 and it is awful. How can I get involved? What steps can I take that will make the most difference? Do you know of a group in Edmonton organizing that is making a real difference especially in the "missing middle". Chapters: 00:00Mailbag Special: Your Housing Questions Answered 00:23Should Seniors Rent Out Empty Bedrooms? 02:57Will Cheaper New Homes Help Seniors Downsize? 05:07Why Millennials Are Falling Behind 06:00Social Isolation, Third Places & Housing Costs 08:05How Housing Affordability Breaks Friendships and Communities 10:54Can the Greenbelt Deliver Affordable Housing? 12:43Is Lower Immigration the Fastest Path to Affordability? 14:16What Canadians Can Do to Push for Change Research/links: The Disappearing "Third Place": Why Making Friends Is Getting Harder https://youtu.be/WYFTsrvwr0o?si=IIGS4jllTN2dKT5h Grow Together Edmonton https://www.growtogetheryeg.com/ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| The Story Behind Canada’s Collapsing Fertility Rate | 29 May 2026 | 00:21:33 | |
Canada’s fertility rate has fallen to just 1.25 children per woman, one of the lowest in the developed world. But what’s actually driving the decline? Are fewer Canadians having children, or are the ones having kids simply choosing to have fewer of them? In this episode of DemograFix, Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern break down the data behind Canada’s collapsing birth rate. They explore why more women are remaining childless, why one-child families have become the norm, and how housing costs, delayed parenthood, childcare, culture, and changing lifestyles are reshaping family formation across the country. Topics discussed:
If Canada wants higher birth rates, what would it actually take to make raising children affordable again? #Canada #HousingCrisis #FertilityRate #BirthRate #Millennials #GenZ #Economy #Housing #Population #Parenting #Childcare #CanadianPolitics #Demographics #TheMissingMiddle Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: Canada’s Ultra-Low Fertility Rate 01:08 What Fertility Rates Measure — And Why Canada Is Different 01:59 Housing Costs, Cities, and Why Young Families Are Leaving 03:49 Are Fewer Women Having Children? 04:32 Delayed Parenthood and The Rise In Childlessness 06:01 Marriage, Religion, Immigration, and Fertility Trends 08:03 Does Higher Education Actually Reduce Birth Rates? 10:24 From Three-Child Families To One-Child Households 12:26 Housing Costs, Bedrooms, and Raising Kids In Canada 14:22 Canadians Still Want More Children 17:28 From Overpopulation Fears To Population Collapse 19:44 The Growing Gap Between Family Goals and Reality 20:05 What Governments Could Do To Make Raising Kids Easier Research/links: Proportion of women aged 20 to 49 without children, by age group and selected sociodemographic characteristics, 2024 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/260126/t001a-eng.htm ‘One and Done’ is the new norm: inside Canada’s growing one-child family trend Living arrangements of children in Canada: A century of change https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2014/statcan/75-006-x/75-006-2014001-4-eng.pdf Fertility in Canada, 1921 to 2022 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2024001-eng.htm 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 University of Ottawa Co-op Student, Kelly Hoban Brought to you by the Missing Middle Initiative https://www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Why Canada Will NEVER Tax Your Home Profits | 27 May 2026 | 00:18:35 | |
Why are Canadians allowed to sell their homes tax-free while profits from stocks and investments get taxed? And is that policy making Canada’s housing crisis even worse? In this episode of Classonomics Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down Canada’s capital gains exemption on primary residences, why it exists, why politicians are terrified to touch it, and whether it’s contributing to skyrocketing home prices and inequality between homeowners and renters. They explore the history of the tax exemption, why attempts to change it spark political outrage, how other countries handle housing taxes, and whether taxing home profits would actually make housing more affordable. Plus, they discuss property taxes, downsizing, investor advantages, generational inequality, and why even “common sense” housing reforms have become politically impossible in Canada. Topics covered:
#Canada #HousingCrisis #RealEstate #Taxes #HousingMarket #CanadianPolitics #Economics #TheMissingMiddle Chapters: 00:00 Why Canada Doesn’t Tax Gains on Your Primary Home Research: Canada should look to Australia on eliminating barriers to downsizing for seniors CBC article from a few years ago: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/the-conservatives-misleading-claims-about-a-secret-liberal-housing-tax-1.5312873 26 of 40: https://view.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2022032109551988175 History of cap gains taxes: https://www.ctf.ca/EN/EN/Newsletters/Perspectives/2021/3/210304.aspx Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| The Hidden Algorithm Deciding What You Pay | 22 May 2026 | 00:25:23 | |
What if companies could figure out the exact maximum you’re willing to pay, and charge you exactly that? Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Why Mark Carney Wants Canada’s Own “Norway Fund” | 20 May 2026 | 00:12:37 | |
Canada is launching a new sovereign wealth fund, but what exactly is it, and why is Prime Minister Mark Carney betting big on it? In this episode of Classonomics, Mike Moffatt and Meredith Martin break down the proposed Canada Strong Fund, how sovereign wealth funds work, and why comparisons to Norway’s famous $2 trillion oil fund may not tell the full story. They explore whether debt-financed infrastructure investing can actually grow the economy, why critics are calling it a “sovereign debt fund,” and what this could mean for housing, ports, transit, energy infrastructure, and future generations of Canadians. Topics covered: Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Sovereign Wealth Funds 00:41 What is a Sovereign Wealth Fund? 01:29 Norway’s Two Sovereign Wealth Funds Explained 03:19 Why Norway Created a Second Fund 05:13 How Canada’s Fund Differs From Norway’s 06:28 Criticism Over Debt Financing 08:22 Will the Fund Benefit Future Generations? 09:58 Why the Announcement Confused Canadians 12:03 Final Thoughts And Outro Research/links: The Canada Strong Fund: Nation-Building or State Venture Capitalism? What Canada can learn from Norway's Sovereign Wealth Fund https://www.mjemcgill.com/articles/what-canada-can-learn-from-norways-sovereign-wealth-fund Our pension funds must be sovereign wealth funds, too – even if pensioners take a hit Canada's spring budget projects economy to grow and deficit to fall https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz0278zyznjo Neither Norway nor Singapore: Decoding Canada’s new sovereign wealth fund https://globalnews.ca/news/11825911/norway-singapore-canada-sovereign-wealth-fund/ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Development Charges Are Finally Being Cut. What Happens Next? | 15 May 2026 | 00:19:28 | |
Ontario has started cutting development charges. But is this the breakthrough Ontario’s housing market needs, or just the first step? In this episode of The Missing Middle Podcast, Mike Moffatt sits down with Kim Fairley, President of Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), to unpack what Ontario’s new development charge reforms mean for homebuyers, builders, and municipalities – and what still needs to happen next. They discuss: Chapters: 00:00 Intro: Ontario’s new development charge deal: what changes? 03:55 Is housing finally getting more affordable? 05:14 Northern Ontario’s housing market: a different reality 07:09 Sault Ste. Marie has no development charges 08:07 Do buyers know how much development charges cost? 10:25 Why transparency on development charges matters 12:08 Lower housing costs without raising taxes? 13:35 Do Ontarians support cutting development charges? 16:07 Can politicians actually work together on housing? 17:08 What happens next for Ontario housing? 18:18 Progress made, but the hard part starts now Research/links: How to Lower Development Charges Without Raising Property Taxes https://www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/p/how-to-lower-development-charges A Pathway to Development Charge Reform https://www.orea.com/advocacy/Development-Charge-Reform Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Canada vs. U.S.: Why Young Workers Are Choosing to Leave | 13 May 2026 | 00:16:41 | |
Why are so many young Canadians leaving and why are some people suggesting they should be punished for it? In this episode of The Missing Middle, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux break down the growing “brain drain” from Canada to the United States and the shocking proposal that young people who leave should pay a $500,000 exit fee. They dig into what’s really driving this trend: unaffordable housing, stagnant wages, limited career opportunities, and policy decisions that increasingly favour older, wealthier generations. This isn’t about loyalty. It’s about survival and a country that may no longer offer young people a path to the life their parents had. 📊 Topics covered:
Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Why Young Canadians Are Leaving 02:25 Cost Of Living And The U.S. Pull Factor 03:16 The Real Cost Of Brain Drain 04:05 Canada’s Productivity Problem 05:12 Punishing Young People Instead Of Fixing Problems 05:58 How Politics Shifted Against Younger Generations 07:14 Is Brain Drain Being Overblown? 08:02 Why The Viral Brain Drain Chart Misleads 08:50 Canada’s Record Emigration Problem 09:29 Losing The Best And Brightest 10:30 Immigration, Talent, And Retention Failures 11:14 Is Canada Becoming America’s Farm Team? 12:38 How Temporary Workers Changed The Labour Market 13:55 What Policies Could Win Young Canadians Back? 14:12 Housing As The Core Issue 15:17 Taxes, Transfers, And Generational Inequality 15:46 Canada’s Value Proposition Problem 16:16 Closing Thoughts And Listener Questions Research: Sabrina's National Post column: Fix the brain drain by fixing Canada, not with a $500K exit tax | National Post Statistics Canada — Recent trends in migration flows from Canada to the United States: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/36-28-0001/2025007/article/00006-eng.htm The Hub — “Can anyone solve Canada’s brain drain problem?”: https://thehub.ca/2026/04/03/can-anyone-solve-canadas-brain-drain-problem/ HRD: Canada's talent exodus: What senior HR leaders can't afford to ignore | Human Resources Director Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| The Hidden Wealth Transfer from Young to Old - Explained | 08 May 2026 | 00:15:26 | |
Why does it feel like young Canadians can’t get ahead anymore? In this episode, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt break down the growing generational divide in Canada, and why Millennials and Gen Z are being squeezed from both sides. From skyrocketing housing costs to rising taxes and massive government spending on programs like Old Age Security (OAS), the financial pressure on younger Canadians has never been higher. We explore how Canada’s aging population is reshaping the economy, why healthcare and retirement spending now dominate government budgets, and how policy decisions around housing have made affordability worse. With fewer workers supporting more retirees, and homeownership increasingly out of reach, this episode uncovers the systemic forces driving a massive wealth transfer from young to old. Is this sustainable? Why hasn’t policy changed? And what can younger generations actually do about it? Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: The Hidden Wealth Transfer From Young to Old 00:18 Canada’s Aging Population and the Fiscal Squeeze 01:32 Why Fewer Workers Are Supporting More Retirees 01:54 How OAS Became Canada’s Biggest Federal Expense 03:04 The Truth About Who Paid for Old Age Security 04:14 Young Canadians Are Being Squeezed From Both Sides 04:59 How Housing Policy Made Homes More Expensive 06:29 Did Boomers Intentionally Build This System? 08:23 The Unintended Consequences of Housing Restrictions 09:13 Why Millennials and Gen Z Feel Locked Out 10:20 How Government Spending Shifted Toward Seniors 11:42 Why Younger Generations Struggle to Organize Politically 12:49 Would Lower Home Prices Crash Canada’s Economy? 13:34 Why Cheaper Housing Would Make Canada Wealthier 13:52 Why Young Canadians Need Political Power 15:00 Final Thoughts and Outro Research/links: An Oligarchy of Old People https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/05/gerontocracy-wealth-power/686585/ Are Boomers Bankrupting the Future? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbM3_BPDJ5Y 2026 Ontario Budget https://budget.ontario.ca/2026/pdf/2026-ontario-budget-en.pdf Page 196 Annual Financial Report of the Government of Canada 2024-25 https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/fin/publications/afr-rfa/2025/afr-rfa-2024-25-eng.pdf Pg 15 Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Did Canada Ignore Immigration Fraud on Purpose? | 06 May 2026 | 00:12:51 | |
Canada’s international student program is under fire and the numbers are hard to ignore. In this episode, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down a shocking Auditor General report that uncovered major enforcement failures inside Canada’s immigration system. With over 153,000 potentially non-compliant students flagged and little follow-up from authorities, this isn’t just a bureaucratic slip-up. It raises serious questions about oversight, accountability, and trust. Is this really about growing too fast, or did the government fail to enforce its own rules? We dive into:
This conversation unpacks how policy decisions ripple across the economy, and why fixing the system may require more than just lowering the numbers. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: Auditor General Report: The Big Findings 00:45 – Enforcement Failure 01:47 – “Deliberate and Scandalous” Fraud Handling 03:42 – What the Program Was Supposed to Do 04:34 – What It Became: Wage Suppression & Exploitation 05:24 – Housing Crisis Impact 07:45 – Only 40% Confirmed They Leave Canada 09:32 – The Case for Retroactive Enforcement 11:02 – Why Cutting Immigration Isn’t Enough RESEARCH LINKS: Auditor General Report on International Student Program (March 2025): https://www.canada.ca/en/auditor-general/our-work/audit-reports/auditor-general-report-2026-international-student-program-reforms.html Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| The War Over Upzoning Just Escalated | 01 May 2026 | 00:17:18 | |
Cities across Canada are backing away from upzoning. After agreeing to allow fourplexes and other missing middle housing, municipalities like Calgary, Toronto, Markham, and Windsor are scaling back — or reversing — reforms altogether. What’s behind the pushback, and are YIMBYs losing the as-of-right fight? Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||
| Carney’s Canada After 1 Year: What’s Working (and What’s Not) | 29 Apr 2026 | 00:23:51 | |
One year after Mark Carney’s stunning rise to power, how is his government actually performing? Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil | |||