The Missing Middle Podcast

Why aren’t we seeing more multiplexes in Canadian cities—even after zoning reforms? In this episode of The Missing Middle, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt dig into the surprising roadblocks holding back infill housing. From bizarre bedroom caps to height limits that make 10-plexes impossible, they unpack how cities say "yes" to housing... and then quietly say "no." They call out the red tape, NIMBY politics, and why it might be time for provinces to take the wheel. If you're wondering why the housing crisis isn’t getting better, this one’s for you. (Full disclosure: This episode was recorded on Friday June 18th, before the Toronto city council watered down sixplex legalization, but the conversation remains entirely relevant.)

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:51 Push-back to multi-unit buildings

03:46 Bedroom limits

06:07 Ron Butler episode

06:34 The rooming-house factor

08:14 Height restrictions and Ottawa story

10:40 Restrictions make good architecture difficult

12:13 Infil is always harder so restrictions make that even worse

14:02 Solutions

research/links:

Edmonton Zoning Bylaw Renewal

City staff recommend permitting sixplexes in residential areas

City staff recommend allowing sixplexes across all Toronto neighbourhoods

Reddit discussion on the above 👆 

Toronto city council waters down proposed sixplex legalization, limiting changes to certain neighbourhoods

Toronto wrangles with a simple question: What is a multiplex?

We recommend you read the City Hall Watcher Substack by Matt Elliott

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

In this episode, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt tackle how GST rebates are affecting new homebuyers, tracing the history of these incentives and how inflation has quietly eroded their value. With fresh rebate structures now on the table—especially for first-time buyers—they examine what’s working, what’s not, and what’s politically possible. And, of course they have some suggestions on how policy could be shaped to benefit everyone. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 

01:52 A new home in the GTHA for under $450k - impossible

02:23 Understanding GST rebates, their history and impact

04:17 Why are the rebates so small?

06:56 Bill c-4’s first-time-homebuyer rebate

08:09 What the proposed GST rebate misses - seniors downsizing

10:45 Proposed changes to GST rebates

13:00 Will governments make these proposed changes?

14:30 Sabrina’s take

15:37 Concerns about inflation and housing demand

Research/Links:

Is Ontario Ready to Spend $895M to Jumpstart Homebuilding?

The PBOs Math Is Clear: We Need an Expanded GST Housing Rebate

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

In this episode of the Missing Middle podcast Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt discuss the lack of clear housing goals from political parties, including the Liberals' national housing strategy's focus on low-income earners and the NDP's ineffective communication with younger voters. The conversation highlights the struggle of middle-class individuals to afford housing, the disconnect between political messaging and the lived experiences of young Canadians, and the potential political time bomb ticking as a result of  these housing frustrations. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction  

01:01 The missing middle-class housing strategy 

02:11 Housing as a human right can’t be the only strategy

03:00 There is no vision for middle-class housing

04:15 Some politicians have a vision but not the Liberals

05:19 The Big Lebowski reference

06:31 NDP's struggles with housing communication

09:20 The unconscious bias towards social housing

11:43 A misunderstanding of what middle class means

15:12 Where are the policies that target market housing?

16:20 Mike outlines 3 buckets of housing

18:57 The rightward shift of young people

21:15 The future of home ownership for young Canadians

23:20 Saving for retirement without a home

26:25 Cost of delivery crisis

27:09 Policy solutions

Research:

The Homeownership Journey Is Broken. Policymakers Need to Repair It.

Big Lebowski - Nihilists

Why is the NDP doing so badly, even with progressives? Just take a look at their awful housing 

Housing affordability for Millennials and Gen Z

How Taxes, and Taxes-on-Taxes Add Over $250K to a Vancouver Condo

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

In this episode of the missing Middle podcast conservative pundit Sabrina Maddeaux and economist Mike Moffatt discuss the current state of immigration in Canada. Together they examine a Bank of Canada report that focuses on the implications of temporary foreign workers on wages.  Mike and Sabrina talk about the challenges faced by new permanent residents, and the ambitious goals set by the Century Initiative for population growth. They explore how these factors intertwine with the housing crisis and the overall economic landscape, emphasizing the need for coherent immigration policies that align with infrastructure and social cohesion.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:52 Bank of Canada report on wages and immigration

02:49 The mix of newcomers is different

05:33 New immigrants earn less and country of origin impacts wages

07:21 This is only becoming more pronounced

09:11 The wage gap is shrinking for Permanent Residence 

10:08 But it’s a good news, bad news story

11:00 The role of wage suppression

13:56 How does this impact social cohesion  

15:25 The Century Initiative and population growth goals

Research:

The Shift in Canadian Immigration Composition and its Effect on Wages

Canada's population needs to be 100 million by 2100

Canada on track for 100 million population but public support can’t be taken for granted: Century Initiative CEO

The 'Century Initiative' is the talk of the campaign, but what is it?

You Can't Grow a Country Just On Temporary Immigration

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

In this episode of the Missing Middle podcast, mortgage broker Ron Butler sits down with conservative pundit Sabrina Maddeaux and economist Mike Moffatt to discuss the current crisis in the Toronto condo market. Ron outlines the vast scope of the problem stemming from pre-construction purchases made during a speculative boom. He explains how investors are facing significant losses as property values decline, while also addressing the broader implications of poor development choices and the lack of low-rise housing options. The conversation explores the role of government in addressing these issues and the potential for positive change in the housing market.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction Ron Butler

01:06 Outlining the Toronto condo market crisis

04:07 How much of this story is a Toronto and Vancouver story?

05:22 Never go cash-flow negative?

07:01 How do we have a glut of condos during a housing shortage?

09:51 How condo developers contributed to the crash

12:13 Who is Most Affected by the Crisis?

14:00 Financing challenges and future outlook

15:33 The perfect storm - purpose-built rentals

17:18 Government subsidized rentals

18:13 The greenbelt and Downview Airport land

19:39 Is this the Toronto bubble burst? Is it The One?

20:23 Low-rise homes in Toronto - a brief history of artificial scarcity 

23:05 What about family sized condos?

25:08 What’s the best non-terrible case scenario here?

27:32 The role of government in housing solutions

29:08 It wouldn’t be an MM podcast without Mike talking about development charges

30:25 Sabrina wants the government to get out of the way

Research and links:

The Angry Mortgage podcast

How low will rents go?

416 Condo Crash

Chart Storm: Five graphs on Toronto’s historic condo market collapse

Guest: Ron Butler, https://x.com/ronmortgageguy

https://www.butlermortgage.ca/

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

In this episode, conservative pundit Sabrina Maddeaux and economist Mike Moffatt discuss the potential of factory built homes as a solution to the housing crisis. They explore the promises made by politicians regarding prefabricated housing, the spectrum of factory built homes, and the claims of reduced construction times, costs, and emissions. The conversation delves into the current challenges faced in North America, including regulatory barriers and municipal approvals.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Factory Built Homes (FBH)

01:34 Innovation in homebuilding

03:25 Understanding the spectrum of factory built homes

05:22  Claims of speed, cost, and emissions

07:45 Current challenges in North America

09:33 Where do the reductions in emissions come from?

10:18 Perceptions of FBH among younger generations

13:30 Regulatory barriers to adoption

15:41 Municipal approvals and their impact

17:40 Where would the election promise money go?

19:19 The potential benefits for traditional builders

20:12 Optimism for the future of FBH

Research/Links:

Scott Aitchison

Building More, Building Faster

Caivan

Why is it So Hard to Mass-Produce Housing?

Eight Pieces of Housing Advice to the Prime Minister

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

In this episode of The Missing Middle podcast, hosts Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt discuss the impossible trinity that broke Canadian housing. They explore the implications of stagnant neighborhoods, population growth, and government policies that hinder housing affordability. The conversation delves into the complexities of urban planning, the impact of NIMBYism, and the need for realistic solutions to address the housing crisis.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:06 Gregor Robertson’s rough start as Minister of Housing

03:51 Increased government housing would impact home prices

05:06 Understanding the Impossible Trinity that broke housing

07:37 Examples of cities doing two of three

10:03 Not allowed to grow up or out equals spiking prices

11:21 The illusion of legalized fourplexes

14:15 Ottawa’s zoning reform and stupid two-story height limit

17:33 Toronto’s wealthiest areas are the least dense

18:20 Proposed solutions for housing affordability

Research links:

The Impossible Trinity that Broke Canadian Housing

Can Homes Become Affordable Without Prices Going Down?

Toronto Star fourplex piece

How Community Consultation is Ruining Democracy

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:13 Job market statistics 

02:10 Why the job market is so bad right now

04:27 Different ways to measure the job market

07:02 Things are particularly bad in Ontario

09:02 High unemployment fractures the social fabric

11:25 The impact of a slow job market on lifetime earning

13:32 How youth unemployment shapes political priorities

14:58 Will the soft job market result in increased school enrollment?

17:40 Is an improved credential worth the cost?

20:41 Job searching lasting over six months

22:08 Solutions and policy recommendations

Research/links

Canadian Labour Market Update Q1 2025: Jobs in Purgatory

Ontario’s unemployment rate jumps to 7% even as ‘moderate’ job creation continues

Alex Usher blog - Opportunity and Talent

Something Alarming Is Happening to the Job Market

Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson review – make America build again

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

He's got 215,000 YouTube subscribers and millions of views. The urban planner and YouTube creator Uytae Lee sits down with Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt to have a fun and wide-ranging conversation about housing and the systemic hurdles to building more of it. Uytae shares insights on creating engaging content about housing, urban planning, design and the realities of YouTube monetization. The discussion also touches on the challenges of prefabricated housing, the need for innovation and some free advice for the new prime minister of Canada.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 

01:14 Understanding the B.C. housing situation and housing taxes

04:12 Getting lucky with single egress video

05:41 The impact of building codes on housing

08:49 Creating engaging YouTube content

12:55 The reality of YouTube monetization

14:34 How long it takes to make an About Here video

15:41 Are you hopeful about housing?

17:44 Political discourse on housing 

18:15 Caution around factory built homes as a panacea 

 21:30 Uytae’s favourite form of housing

23:35 Good governance could mean good housing policy

25:17 Immigration, housing and the backlash 

27:24 Start with what you want to create and work backwards

Research/Links

Uytae Lee’s YouTube page:

The Housing Tax Crisis

Why North America Can't Build Nice Apartments (because of one rule)

How Breaking Rules Could Create Better Apartments

Why is it So Hard to Mass-Produce Housing?

How a SoftBank-Backed Construction Startup Burned Through $3 Billion

How Elevator Rules Cost Us Homes: An Interview with Market Urbanism

Eight Pieces of Housing Advice to the Prime Minister

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

In this episode, conservative pundit Sabrina Maddeaux and economist Mike Moffatt discuss the significant decline in the construction of three-bedroom homes in Ontario, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). They explore the implications of the 'baby bust' phenomenon, where fewer families are able to afford suitable housing, leading to a decrease in birth rates. The conversation delves into the regulatory barriers and economic conditions that have contributed to the housing crisis, emphasizing the need for policy changes to address the missing middle in housing options. The episode highlights the challenges faced by young families in navigating the current housing market and the importance of providing both rental and ownership opportunities.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:51 The baby bust and housing trends

03:08 Why aren’t more 3-bedrooms being built?

05:3 Home ownership is falling in parts of Ontario

08:28 The Missing Middle’s North Star

09:00 Renting or owning, it should be a choice

12:30 Housing and fertility

18:14 Should the government step in?

19:35 Mike reminisces about Lawn Darts

21:00 Urban growth boundaries have consequences

Research/Links

Poilievre catches heat from opponents for talk of 'biological clocks'

The Baby Bust and the Death of the Three-Bedroom Ownership Home

Hard evidence on the link between housing and fertility.

https://x.com/mikalskuterud/status/1907114728108773444

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5046571

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil