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PODCAST

The Missing Middle Podcast

Cara Stern, Mike Moffatt, and Meredith Martin

Welcome to the Missing Middle, a podcast about why the middle class in Canada is disappearing. We hope to help you understand why life is becoming unaffordable for so many in this country, and what can be done to reverse course.

news news commentary

All Episodes

31:20

Ask Me Anything: Housing, Transit, and Our Podcast’s...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/01/07

In this special Ask Me Anything episode of The Missing Middle, the full team answers your biggest viewer questions on housing, transit, immigration, and affordability — and we share a major announcement about the future of the podcast. We also introduce our newest team member and talk candidly about why this work hits close to home for so many Canadians. The conversation dives into walkable neighbourhoods and small businesses, why governments struggle to act on housing affordability, the ta...

en-ca

11:39

Fixing Canada’s Health Data Rules Without Killing...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/12/17

Is Canada’s life sciences and health tech sector heading toward a code red? In this episode, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt unpack how outdated and fragmented privacy laws are slowing innovation, and why aligning too closely with European regulations could make things even worse. They explore the “Brussels effect,” where the EU’s regulatory power shapes rules far beyond Europe, and how Canada may already be feeling its impact. The conversation dives into why modern health innovation depe...

en-ca

23:23

Grading Provinces on Housing: Who Earned an A and Who...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/12/12

In this episode of the Missing Middle, hosts Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt break down his latest “home score” report, grading every Canadian province on housing. Atlantic provinces like New Brunswick and P.E.I. lead the way, while Ontario struggles, with high costs forcing young people to stay home longer and many residents moving away. The grades are based on 36 indicators covering supply, affordability, suitability, and societal outcomes. Mike also explores housing policies that help, harm, o...

en-ca

18:21

Are We Ignoring a Generation of Struggling Young Men?

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/12/10

In this episode of the Missing Middle Podcast, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down a major shift in Canada’s income trends: men over retirement age are now earning more than men aged 25–34. They explain how seniors’ incomes have increased through pensions, investments, and government supports, while younger workers face slow wage growth, higher living costs, and inflation. The discussion explores key issues affecting younger generations in Canada, including housing affordability, chi...

en-ca

25:34

How Housing Prices Shape Families

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/12/03

This episode of the Missing Middle podcast explores a new University of Toronto study that highlights housing affordability as a key factor in declining fertility rates in the United States. Hosts Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern analyze the findings, including the study’s estimate that over half of the fertility decline since 1990 is linked to the shortage of affordable, family-sized homes—resulting in 13 million fewer births. They discuss how delayed household formation, smaller living spaces, a...

en-ca

15:36

Are Boomers Bankrupting the Future?

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/11/26

The conversation highlights the pressing issue of intergenerational tensions in Canada, particularly focusing on the financial burdens faced by younger Canadians. Sabrina discusses the potential consequences of failing to address these issues, including the risk to public healthcare and the erosion of political support for senior programs. The need for a modernized fiscal system that is equitable for all generations is emphasized as a critical solution to prevent further societal breakdown. ...

en-ca

14:05

Canada Is Finally Regulating Stablecoins – Here’s Why...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/11/19

Canada is moving toward regulating dollar-backed stablecoins, and in this episode, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down what that means. They explain how stablecoins work, why Canada has been behind other G7 countries, and the potential benefits for payments and innovation. Mike and Sabrina also discuss the balance between protecting Canadians and encouraging competition, and why clear rules could help Canadian fintechs thrive. A small step with big implications for the future of digi...

en-ca

19:29

Why Rent Control Might Be Hurting the People It’s...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/11/12

Host Cara Stern is back from parental leave, and she and Mike are jumping right into one of the most debated topics in housing policy — rent control. Inspired by Zohran Mamdani's campaign rent freeze proposal, they dig into how these rules shape the housing market, not just for landlords and tenants, but for entire cities. While rent control offers stability and predictability for those lucky enough to have it, it can also quietly freeze people in place — making it harder to move for a new jo...

en-ca

19:44

How Canada Fell Behind the World on Housing...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/11/05

This week on The Missing Middle Podcast, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux bust some myths and take a hard look at Canada’s place in the global housing landscape. Drawing on new OECD data, they reveal why Canada’s housing affordability crisis is among the worst in the developed world—with home prices having risen more than twice as fast as incomes since 1999. They compare Canada’s record to other OECD countries (spoiler: it’s not flattering) and highlight where affordability has been successf...

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15:47

Do You Have a CRA Horror Story?

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/10/29

The Canada Revenue Agency is facing a public crisis: long delays, wrong assessments, and frustrated taxpayers. Hosts Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt unpack the CRA’s 100-day “fix,” why it’s only a Band-Aid solution, and the deeper structural issues inside Canada’s tax system. From call-centre chaos to a tax code even accountants struggle to understand, this episode explores how CRA policies are eroding public trust and what real reform would look like. Mike also shares his personal experi...

en-ca

23:47

The Rental Paradox: Why Lower Prices Aren't Enough

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/10/22

Rents are finally dropping in many Canadian cities, yet finding an affordable, decent apartment still feels impossible. What’s going on with the rental market? In this episode, Sabrina Maddeaux sits down with Max Steinman, CEO of RentSync and Rentals.ca, to unpack what’s driving the recent rent declines, how rent control policies backfired, and why “financialization” isn’t the villain it’s made out to be. We dive into how younger Canadians are coping with record-high housing costs, what rente...

en-ca

15:41

Nightmare on Craven Road: When Local Politics Derail...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/10/15

What happens when one city councillor gets Toronto council to vote in favour of “studying” garden suites on a single block, potentially undoing years of zoning reform? In this episode of The Missing Middle, Mike Moffatt and Meredith Martin dig into the Craven Road and Parkmount Avenue dispute to reveal how neighbourhood politics, NIMBYism, and endless “consultation” are slowing Toronto’s housing progress. From the satirical truth of McSweeney’s “Every NIMBY Speech at a Public Hearing” to the ...

en-ca

21:39

Eastbound and Outpriced: The Great GTA Family Migration

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/10/08

Ontario’s family housing crisis is spreading fast, and it’s not just a GTA problem anymore. In this episode of The Missing Middle podcast, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt delve into a new report that reveals how the shortage of family-friendly homes in the GTA is driving young families east and south, reshaping entire regions from Peterborough to Ottawa. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:55 Understanding ground-oriented ownership homes 04:00 The ripple effect of GTA's housing sho...

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26:23

From Kraft Dinner to Condos: The Great Shrinkage

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/10/01

In this episode of The Missing Middle, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux dig into the rise of shrinkflation, from grocery store products like cereal and Kraft Dinner to Canada’s shrinking condos, and reveal how companies, developers, and government policies are quietly giving Canadians less for more. From deceptive packaging and behavioral economics tricks to the rise of shoebox condos and poor layouts, we explore how rising costs, investor-driven development, and flawed housing policies are ...

en-ca

13:13

Ontario’s Housing Sales Collapse: It’s Not Just...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/09/24

Ontario’s housing market is in crisis, and it’s not just condos in downtown Toronto. In this episode of The Missing Middle Podcast, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux break down a bleak new report on housing starts and sales across 34 municipalities. From plummeting pre-construction sales and stalled ground-oriented homes, to the looming loss of 21,000 jobs, we explore why affordability is worse than ever, why government housing targets are falling short, and what it all means for buyers, rent...

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17:28

Who Really Wins with Return-to-Office Mandates?

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/09/17

In this episode of The Missing Middle, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down Ontario’s new return-to-office mandate and the big banks’ similar policies, asking what they really mean for younger workers and families already facing high housing costs, long commutes, and stagnant wages. They explore the trade-offs between productivity, commuting, and control, while producer Meredith Martin joins to share her perspective as a former union leader on mentorship, collaboration, and what might...

en-ca

16:33

Condo Crashes, Shrinkflation, & The Death of...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/09/10

In this episode of The Missing Middle, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt dig into Canada’s condo market crash, the rise of “housing shrinkflation,” and what it all means for young Canadians chasing the dream of homeownership. They unpack why falling condo prices aren’t actually fixing the housing crisis, how developers and government policies have fueled the problem, and why middle-class buyers are being left behind. If you’ve been wondering whether Canada is headed for a nation of “forever r...

en-ca

20:43

The Secret Life of Think Tanks: Funding, Influence &...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/09/03

Ever wonder what people at think tanks actually do all day? In this episode of The Missing Middle, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt pull back the curtain on the mysterious world of think tanks. From how they’re structured and funded, to the challenges of staying independent, they explore what really goes on behind the scenes. You’ll also hear about career opportunities for young professionals, why U.S. think tanks dwarf their Canadian counterparts, and how think tanks influence policies that...

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20:07

Infill Housing Battles: What 15 Years of Data Reveal

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/08/27

Why do some infill housing projects spark outrage while others fly under the radar? In this episode of The Missing Middle, host Sabrina Matto sits down with former London City Councillor and researcher Jesse Helmer to unpack 15 years of planning committee decisions. They explore why certain housing proposals face fierce opposition, what factors reduce pushback, and how cities can actually build more homes with community support. From surprising success stories to lessons learned in local poli...

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17:00

The High Cost of Losing Your Creative Class

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2025/08/20

Canadian cities are facing a creative crisis. Rising housing costs are driving artists, musicians, designers, and other innovators out — and it’s not just culture that’s at risk. In this episode, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down how losing the “creative class” hurts local economies, tourism, and even a city’s ability to attract tech and finance talent. From the ripple effects on nightlife and small businesses to the loss of vital cultural spaces, we explore why cities can’t afford...

en-ca

142 results

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