The Missing Middle Podcast

In this episode, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt discuss the federal Liberal leadership race, focusing on how the top contenders are addressing Canada's housing crisis. They analyze the candidates' policies, including Mark Carney's vague housing promises, Chrystia Freeland's tax cuts for first-time homebuyers, and Karina Gould's approach to generational change. The conversation highlights the candidates' proposals and the need for a vision that resonates with younger Canadians. They also provide advice for the candidates and make predictions about the outcome of the race. (This episode was recorded on Friday February 21st at 10am and later that day Ruby Dhalla was disqualified from the race.)

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:59 The candidates 

02:25 Housing has taken a back seat to Trump

06:54 Platform analysis - Mark Carney

10:21  Platform analysis - Chrystia Freeland

19:48 Platform analysis - Karina Gould

24:20 Where’s the vision?

27:00 Unaddressed issues in the leadership race

28:59 Advice for Liberal leadership candidates

30:34 Ranked ballot system - vote your ideals

31:39 Predictions for the leadership race outcome

Links:

Mark Carney - Canada Not Interested in Trump’s Offer & Liberal Leadership Prospects

Blueprint For More And Better Housing

Like Poilievre, Freeland is pitching a housing plan that would limit immigration

Ending Homelessness and Building an Affordable Future

Mark Carney to boost construction of new homes

Candidates

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 discuss the complexities of development charges in Ontario, highlighting how municipalities have accumulated over $10 billion in unspent infrastructure funds. They explore the implications of these taxes on housing affordability, the political dynamics influencing their increase, and the growing public awareness of the housing crisis. 

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:28 Understanding development charges

02:10 The accumulation $10 Billion in unspent infrastructure funds

04:28  Cities are sitting on huge piles of cash but it’s totally above board

06:30 The impact of development charges on housing affordability

08:11 The economy doesn’t care about your intent

09:30 Mike gets in a fight with a city councillor over dev charges

11:20 How a pile of cash improves bond ratings

13:00 Public awareness and pressure for change

15:00 Why Conservatives okay with such high D.C.s

17:07 Shout out to Burlington, Vaughn and Mississauga

Links:

Are Development Charges Fair to Millennials and Gen Z?

Development Charges: 10 Things You Need to Know About Housing Taxes in Ontario

Response from the CBC on my Complaints to the Ombudsman

More Neighbours

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 phenomenon of the 'relationship recession,' exploring its causes, implications for society, and the economic challenges it presents. They delve into how changing social dynamics, economic pressures, and technological advancements are reshaping relationships and family structures, particularly among younger generations. The conversation highlights the impact of these trends on the middle class and the need for policy solutions that address the root causes of declining relationship formation.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:31 Understanding the relationship recession

04:40 Scott Galloway’s theory of men

06:28 The role of technology

09:05 How much of this is a choice?

11:06 Incentives versus structural barriers

13:09 Economic implications of relationship trends

14:40 The role of unaffordable rents on relationships

17:00 the expansion and retraction of personal choice

Links:

The relationship recession is going global

A Few(er) Good Men

Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out

Loneliness in Canada

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

In this conversation, conservative pundit Sabrina Maddeaux and economist Mike Moffatt discuss the challenges and failures of Ontario's housing market, contrasting it with Alberta's more successful approach. They explore the vision of affordable housing presented by Premier Doug Ford, the current state of housing supply, and the political dynamics affecting housing policies. The discussion highlights the implications for millennials and Gen Z, who are increasingly considering moving to provinces like Alberta due to affordability issues. Ultimately, Sabrina and Mike each assign a letter grade to the Ontario government's performance in addressing the housing crisis. Spoiler alert: Ford gets F, but from which host? You’ll have to watch to find out!  

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 

01:06  Outlining a tangible vision of home ownership

07:08 Single, detached family homes for under $500?

08:28 Current state of housing supply

10:49 Apartment units are the only bright light

11:45 Alberta is doing it right

14:22 Ontario’s brain drain to Alberta

15:08 Development charges, approval times and land use policy

17:37 Housing has become politicised  

19:43 The grade reveal

Links:

Housing Shortages Grow Fastest in Smaller Ontario Metros

Development Charges have Helped Price Out the Middle Class

Canada needed to add 500,000 homes last year to keep up with population growth. It failed to hit even half of that.

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

After the federal government capped the number of international students it let into Canada many colleges and universities saw a drastic decrease in enrollment. As a result colleges are slashing programs while universities struggle to balance their books. Why is this happening and who is responsible? Alex Usher, a sector expert and higher education consultant, joins Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux in this week’s episode of the Missing Middle podcast. They discuss the impact of international students on the housing crisis, the financial challenges faced by colleges and universities and the implications of recent policy changes particularly in trades programs and apprenticeships. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 

01:35 Summary higher education policy changes

04:23 Decreasing rents in southern Ontario

05:26 How Canada pays for Ontario’s mismanagement

06:36 The disproportionate impact on northern and rural colleges

08:16 Are trades programs at risk?

12:13 Why should we care about the college sector?

14:21Universites have unique challenges 

16:40 Why has the Ford government escaped security? 

17:49 Feel richer now policies

19:17 Higher education focused policy ideas

18:47 Long-term solutions for higher education challenges

Links

How Colleges Broke Canadian Immigration

Credits

Guest: Alex Usher https://higheredstrategy.com/about/alex-usher-7/

https://x.com/alexusherhesa?lang=en

https://bsky.app/profile/alexusherhesa.bsky.social

Hosts: 

Sabrina Maddeaux https://x.com/SabrinaMaddeaux 

Mike Moffatt https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt https://bsky.app/profile/mikepmoffatt.bsky.social

Producer: Meredith Martin https://twitter.com/meredithmartin https://bsky.app/profile/meredithmartin.bsky.social, https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-martin-21108165/

This podcast is 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

Political pundit Sabrina Meadow and economist Mike Moffatt delve into the complexities of tariffs, particularly in the context of the impending policies under the new Donald Trump's administration. They explore what tariffs are, their implications for the middle class in both the US and Canada, and the public's understanding of these taxes. The conversation highlights the anxiety surrounding trade deficits and the potential economic fallout for consumers and businesses alike. Mike and Sabrina discuss how tariffs act as hidden taxes for consumers, the potential retaliatory measures Canada could take, and the political motivations behind the trade tensions. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:00 Understanding tariffs 

03:07 Public perception and the impact of a tariff threat

05:19 Does Canada really need the US more than it needs us?

07:00 The American middle class will be hurt by tariffs

08:03 Why are Canadian businesses so worried?

10:18 The effects on the Canadian middle class

11:06 Retaliation strategies and economic consequences

13:01 Nobody wins a trade war

15:19 Political theater vs. real economic threats

18:24 The role of citizens in trade wars

Links

Missing Middle Initiative

Fiscal, Macroeconomic, and Price Estimates of Tariffs Under Both Non-Retaliation and Retaliation Scenarios

Trump's Team of Economic Yes-Men

Americans stocking up on foreign goods before Trump tariffs: ‘a sense of urgency’

Tariffs and trade: Experts pick the big charts to watch for 2025

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 analyze Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's policy record. How well did his government do on supporting the middle class? Mike and Sabrina discuss both successes and failures across various policies. They delve into housing supply issues, immigration policies, child benefits, market competition, and the implications of NAFTA 2.0, providing a comprehensive overview of the Trudeau government's impact on the middle class in Canada.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction analyzing Trudeau's legacy on the middle class

00:58 Analyzing Trudeau's legacy on the middle class

02:08 Housing supply: successes and failures

04:57 Immigration policies and their impact

08:41 Mike defends 30 year mortgages

12:20 Child benefits and family support 

14:30 Market competition and oligopoly issues

17:05 NAFTA 2.0: navigating trade challenges

Links:

How Corporate Consolidation is Ruining Everything: Discussion with Denise Hearn and Vass Bednar

A million more non-permanent residents live in Canada than official figures say, ministers told

Labour force participation rate hits 27-year low, outside the pandemic

Mortgage, identity fraud rise in Canada as economic pressures mount: Equifax

Immigration is making Canada's housing more expensive. The government was warned 2 years ago

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

Many of Canada’s problems can be traced back to its tolerance of corporate consolidation, leading to higher prices and lower wages, say Denise Hearn and Vass Bednar, co-authors of the book “The Big Fix: How Companies Capture Markets and Harm Canadians”.

The authors join economist Mike Moffatt and journalist Cara Stern to discuss the implications of corporate consolidation in Canada, exploring how it creates an illusion of competition, affects consumer prices, and contributes to wage stagnation. They delve into the role of monopolies and monopsonies, the financialization of companies, and the challenges of market access for new businesses. The discussion also highlights potential policy solutions to enhance competition and the importance of consumer awareness in navigating these complex issues.

Links:
Buy “The Big Fix” book
Private Equity Is Gutting America — and Getting Away With It
How Private Funds Could Hurt Americans Under Trump

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

In this special New Years Day episode of the Missing Middle Podcast, Mike Moffatt, Cara Stern and Meredith Martin respond to viewer questions which have been collected throughout the year. They explore the importance of community engagement, the potential for standardized building regulations, and the impact of transit on housing prices. The conversation also touches on the difficulties of panelized construction, the concept of granny flats, and the broader economic implications of housing dynamics. In this episode, the hosts discuss the evolving challenges of affordability in housing, the implications of land transfer taxes, and strategies for potential homebuyers in the current market. They also delve into the culture within the economics and journalism professions, highlighting the competitive and sometimes harsh interactions among economists. 

A special thanks to all who wrote to us with their questions and ideas throughout the year. The questions we addressed in this episode were edited for clarity and length. Happy New Year!

Links:

Real Ways Politicians Could Solve the Housing Crisis

Four Pathways to Housing Affordability

Tegan and Sara: The Agony and Ecstasy of the Teen Years

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

In this special holiday episode of the Missing Middle Podcast, hosts Cara Stern, Meredith Martin, and Mike Moffatt answer listener questions about the housing crisis, heritage protection, and community involvement. They discuss the balance between preserving historical homes and the urgent need for more housing, the current state of the housing market, and the implications of capital gains tax. The conversation emphasizes the importance of grassroots activism and the need for more young people in politics to address the affordability crisis in Canada.

A special thanks to all who wrote to us with their questions and ideas throughout the year. The questions we addressed in this episode were edited for clarity and length.

Links:

Alex Bozikovic: Heritage Rules and the Housing Crisis
Is Raising the Capital Gains Tax a Good Idea?
Canada Has a Soft Corruption Problem - Eric Lombardi of More Neighbours Toronto
More Neighbours

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil