The Missing Middle Podcast

In this episode of the Missing Middle, Cara Stern is mad. A majority of MPs recently voted to increase Old Age Security for seniors aged 65-74, regardless of whether they actually need more money.

She and Mike Moffatt explore the structure of Canada's pension programs, the purpose of OAS, and the financial burden it places on the federal budget – and younger workers, many of whom are struggling to pay their housing bills.

They cover the disparities in income among seniors, the challenges of targeting benefits, and the political dynamics surrounding OAS proposals.

Also, we need a co-host to fill in while Cara is on mat leave! If you're interested, send us a resume with one-minute video of why you'd be good for this role to [email protected]  

Links:
Canadian Museum of History
Old Age Security pension recovery tax
Disaggregated trends in poverty from the 2021 Census of Population
Jennifer Robson
https://carleton.ca/politicalmanagement/people/jennifer-robson/
Shooting a fly with an elephant gun: The Bloc’s ultimatum on seniors’ benefits
Most Canadians support or somewhat support extending Old Age Security benefits increase to seniors 65 to 74.

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

In this episode of Missing Middle, journalist Cara Stern is mad. A street in her neighbourhood in Toronto is trying to get an exemption to the city-wide garden suites rules.

Cara and economist Mike Moffatt discuss the ongoing challenges of NIMBYism in Toronto, still supported by local city councillors, even when it's about the gentlest of gentle density.


Links:

How garden suites are dividing these Toronto neighbours (thestar.com)
East-end residents worry they may lose garden suite zoning | CBC News
Craven Road I – Leslieville Historical Society (leslievillehistory.com)
Latest update from the City

Craven Road Map


If you want to let Toronto City council know you support more housing and that garden suites everywhere are part of that you can email:

City Planner Alexa Legge:
[email protected]

Ward 14 City Councillor, Paula Fletcher:
[email protected]

Mayor Olivia Chow:
[email protected]

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

When Mike bought his first home, it cost him $168,000. That number barely covers a downpayment in much of Ontario these days – and even if a developer wanted to, it could not offer that price (even indexed to inflation) because the costs to build are just so high.

Mike and Cara break down the costs associated with home-building, including land prices, development charges, construction costs, and taxes, while also examining the impact of these factors on housing affordability. 

Links:

Eric Lombardi

Greater Toronto Area Municipal Benchmarking Study

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

 @NotJustBikes is many people's gateway into urbanism, and an understanding into how much better our cities and towns can be, if we just make some policy changes.

In this conversation, journalist Cara Stern, economist Mike Moffatt, Not Just Bikes creator Jason Slaughter discuss the challenges and implications of car-dependent suburbs in North America. They explore personal experiences, historical context, and the impact of legislation on urban design. The discussion also delves into economic factors influencing suburban living, the potential for transformation, and cultural attitudes towards housing.

Links:
Not Just Bikes
https://www.youtube.com/c/notjustbikes

Suburbs that don’t suck:
Suburbs that don't Suck - Streetcar Suburbs (Riverdale, Toronto) (youtube.com)

Wortley Village
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wortley_Village

Strong Towns:
https://www.strongtowns.org/

The Sprawl Repair Manual 
https://sprawlrepair.com/home/

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

The conversation explores the impact of the AI revolution on workers and the potential for mass unemployment. The hosts discuss past technological revolutions and the winners and losers they created. They also consider the role of AI in job creation and the potential for increased inequality. The conversation touches on the importance of skills and creativity in navigating the changing job market.

Links:
Vass Bednar @regstoriches
David Bowie predicted in 1999 the impact of the Internet in BBC
Dilbert Blog: Career Advice

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

This week, the federal government announced some big changes to mortgage policies in Canada. Specifically, it’s expanding 30-year mortgage amortizations to anyone buying a new build, or to all first-time homebuyers. It’s also raising the insured mortgage cap from $1 million to $1.5 million.

In this conversation journalist Cara Stern and economist Mike Moffatt discuss the changes and the implications for first-time homebuyers, investors, and the overall housing market, while also addressing concerns about increased debt and the long-term effects on housing prices. 

Links:
Insurable versus Uninsured Mortgages

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

Rents are down in some college towns, and some are crediting the government's international student reforms. In news stories about rents falling, the media often frame price reductions as a bad thing, even though it’s a huge relief for students. Mike and Cara discuss the price drops and why the media tend to ignore the positive side of the story.

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

Economist Mike Moffatt and journalist Cara Stern discuss Canada's record levels of population growth -- and how the majority of it came from record levels of temporary immigration.

Since these numbers became known, due to backlash from the public, the federal government has announced it would implement policies it hopes will reduce the number of non-permanent residents, particularly international students, through attrition. 

The increase in population growth has put pressure on housing, healthcare, and education. International students often face exploitation and are blamed for various issues. The rental market has been heavily impacted, but it remains to be seen if there will be a decrease in prices. The lack of affordable housing options limits opportunities for students to live near their universities.

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

Cities across Canada are implementing vacant home taxes to address the issue of homes sitting empty. These taxes aim to encourage owners to sell or rent out their vacant properties. Economist Mike Moffatt and journalist Cara Stern discuss the challenges in implementation of these taxes including issues with reporting and enforcement. Studies have shown that these taxes have had a small but positive impact in getting homes back on the market, without slowing down housing construction. 

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil

On May 23, professionals who work in the industry to develop missing middle housing, as well as those interested in building them, gathered at the Toronto Reference Library for a one-day conference.

The Missing Middle podcast team spoke to the presenters and will be sharing those interviews with you each week on Fridays throughout the next month.

Ryan Valente is a project manager for Highcroft Homes, where he works on custom home development in Toronto. He talks about what it's like building in Toronto these days, and what still needs to change.

Links:
Highcroft Homes https://www.highcrofthomes.ca/

Producers: 
Cara Stern https://twitter.com/carastern
Meredith Martin https://twitter.com/meredithmartin
Ruth Tecle

Technical production by Mike Greene https://www.instagram.com/mikegreenemedia/

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Edited by Sean Foreman and Canadian Civil