The Missing Middle Podcast
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.
Episodes
210 episodes
Why Everyone Is Fighting Over Bike Lanes
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" acr...
Canada Joins the EU?
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 "Ass...
Canada Could Build Better Homes AND Make Them Cheaper
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, bet...
Should Parents Get the Right to Vote for Their Kids?
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 dise...
We Want 1.5 Million New Homes. But Can We Power Them?
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 cri...
Trump, Tariffs and Canada’s Next Move
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 wh...
Why Developers Only Seem to Build McMansions
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 acros...
Why Fertility Treatment Usage Is Exploding in Canada
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 Canadia...
Are Young and Old People Voting for Different Futures?
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...
The Secret to Building Family-Friendly Housing in Existing Neighbourhoods
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 ...
Why Are Young People Paying for Wealthy Seniors?
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 betwee...
Is Outdated Parental Leave to Blame for Canada's Fertility Crisis?
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.In this episode of Classonomics, Sabrina Maddeau...
Why Suburbs Will Stay in High Demand for Decades
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?In this episode of DemograFix, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt examine new...
The Surprising Way Greenbelts Can Increase Urban Sprawl
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?In this episode, Mike Moffatt and ...
Three Kids Are the New Status Symbol
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-size...
Is Chasing Too Many New Homes Canada’s Next Big Failure?
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...
Is the Temporary Foreign Worker Program Hurting Young People?
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 ...
Why Return-to-Office Didn't Bring Canadians Back to Big Cities
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 ...
From EI to Daycare: Navigating Parental Leave in Canada
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 understan...
What We Love About Canada | Canada Day Special 2026
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 ...
Why Canada Stopped Building Homes for Families
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...
FIFA Gets the Profits. Canadians Get the Bill.
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, Mi...
"Wait Until 2060": Canada's Housing Plan for Young People
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 f...
This Court Ruling Could Change Property Ownership in Canada: Steve Saretsky
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 an...
Will Baby Boomers Leave Behind a Housing Glut?
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 ...
