The Missing Middle Podcast

Cara Stern, Mike Moffatt, and Meredith Martin
  • 4.7 (54)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. FIFA Gets the Profits. Canadians Get the Bill.

    1d ago

    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, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux dive into the real costs of hosting the world's biggest party. They break down the billion-dollar price tags, FIFA's business model, and whether taxpayers are getting stuck with the bill while others reap the rewards. (Producer note: This episode was recorded on June 5th, 2026.) Topics covered: The economics of hosting the FIFA World CupWhy economists question projected economic benefitsPublic spending on stadiums, security, and infrastructureTourism displacement and local business impactsHousing, short-term rentals, and affordability concernsFIFA's revenue model and tax treatmentTransit, traffic, and quality-of-life effects for residentsLessons from previous World Cup host countriesDynamic ticket pricing and the changing fan experienceIf you enjoy thoughtful discussions on housing, infrastructure, public policy, and the economic issues affecting Canada's middle class, subscribe for more episodes from The Missing Middle. Chapters: 00:00 The World Cup's Economic Myth 00:49 The Benefits Nobody Talks About 03:32 Can Hosting the World Cup Actually Lose Money? 05:11 Why More Tourists Doesn't Mean More Growth 07:00 Who's Really Paying the $1 Billion Bill? 08:23 FIFA's Billion-Dollar Business Model 09:19 Cities Pay, FIFA Profits 10:39 The Tax Breaks You Didn't Know About 12:27 The Hidden Costs for Residents 15:21 What Past World Cups Teach Us 17:07 Are These Games Worth the Price? 17:49 Why World Cup Tickets Are Exploding in Cost 19:22 The People's Game or a VIP Experience? Research: BMO Capital Markets -- Canada World Cup GDP boost (up to $6.5B): https://www.wealthprofessional.ca/news/industry-news/bmo-world-cup-2026-set-to-deliver-up-to-c65-billion-economic-boost-for-canada/392593 The World Cup is expensive, but it’s our turn to pick up the tab https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/article-the-world-cup-is-expensive-but-its-our-turn-to-pick-up-the-tab/ ProPublica -- 'You do, you pay, we take': how FIFA's host city deals work: https://www.propublica.org/article/world-cup-2026-host-cities-revenue-houston CBC -- FIFA/Deloitte economic impact assessment for Canada ($3.8B figure): https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/world-cup-2026-canada-fifa-economic-benefits-1.7406435  BNN Bloomberg -- Why economic impact on Vancouver and Toronto may never be known: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/economics/2026/05/11/blind-side-why-world-cup-economic-impact-on-vancouver-and-toronto-may-never-be-known/ Bloomberg Tax -- FIFA 2026 World Cup tax demands on host countries: https://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-management-international/fifa-2026-world-cup-blows-the-whistle-on-complex-tax-risks CP24 -- Toronto holds transit fares steady; NJ Transit $48M bill; Boston $80 game-day fare: https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2026/04/16/toronto-will-not-hike-cost-of-transit-during-world-cup-as-other-host-cities-announce-big-fare-increases-to-venues/ ESPN -- World Cup ticket sticker shock and dynamic pricing: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48947095/2026-fifa-world-cup-sticker-shock-ugly-cost-beautiful-game-grand-event Victor Matheson / Holy Cross -- The Economics of the World Cup (academic; stadium white elephants, tourism overestimates): https://hcapps.holycross.edu/hcs/RePEc/hcx/HC1805-Matheson_WorldCup.pdf Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

    21 min
  2. "Wait Until 2060": Canada's Housing Plan for Young People

    6d ago

    "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 for the next 3.5 decades? This week on DemograFix, Mike and Cara dive into the idea of “housing triage”: should governments focus on ending homelessness first, then tackle affordable housing for low-income Canadians, and only later address the middle-class housing crisis? Or is that a false choice? They discuss: -Why some advocates think housing should be solved in stages. -Whether building more market-rate homes actually helps reduce homelessness. -What a 2060 affordability target means for young Canadians trying to build a life. -The politics of falling home prices—and why governments avoid the conversation. -Whether Canada can solve the housing crisis without asking a generation to wait decades for a home. Can we afford to prioritize one housing crisis over another? Or does solving the housing shortage mean tackling them all at once? #Housing #CanadaHousing #HousingCrisis #RealEstate #AffordableHousing #Homeownership #CanadianPolitics #HousingPolicy #MissingMiddlePodcast Chapters: 00:00 Housing Triage: Who Should Be Helped First? 00:01 What Is the Federal Housing Advocate? 00:03 Why the Report Says Housing Won't Be Affordable Until 2060 00:05 Should Young Canadians Accept a Lifetime of Unaffordability? 00:07 The Flaw in Treating Housing Like a Zero-Sum Game 00:09 Why Building More Homes Helps Reduce Homelessness 00:11 Can Canada Solve the Housing Crisis Within a Decade? 00:13 Why Governments Keep Missing Housing Targets 00:14 The Politics of Lower Home Prices 00:17 What Happens If Young Canadians Give Up on Canada? Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

    20 min
  3. This Court Ruling Could Change Property Ownership in Canada: Steve Saretsky

    Jun 17

    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 and rising vacancy rates to investor selloffs, rent control, and the political fallout surrounding B.C.’s controversial Cowichan land title ruling. They also compare the housing markets in Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary, and discuss what’s next for affordability, development, immigration-driven demand, and the future of housing policy in Canada. Topics covered: • The Cowichan land title ruling and B.C. real estate uncertainty • Vancouver vs. Toronto housing market slowdown • Falling condo prices and investor selloffs • Rising vacancy rates and declining rents • The collapse of Canada’s condo pre-sale market • Purpose-built rentals and developer pullback • B.C.’s rent control policies • Calgary’s zoning and density debate • Immigration, population growth, and housing demand • The future of housing affordability in Canada Chapters: 0:00 Canada’s Housing Market Is Shifting Fast 1:12 Introducing Steve Saretsky & B.C. Housing Challenges 2:18 The Cowichan Land Title Ruling Explained 5:20 Why Banks and Buyers Are Nervous About B.C. Real Estate 8:14 Political Fallout in British Columbia 11:02 Vancouver’s Housing Market Slowdown 13:40 Condo Investors Are Exiting the Market 16:28 Rising Vacancy Rates & Falling Rents 19:11 The Collapse of Canada’s Pre-Construction Condo Market 22:05 Why Developers Are Pulling Back on New Projects 24:37 B.C. Rent Control and Its Market Impact 27:02 Calgary’s Zoning Backlash and Density Debate 30:01 Immigration, Rental Demand & Housing Pressure 32:18 The Future of Family-Friendly Housing in Canada 33:40 Final Thoughts on Canada’s Housing Future Research links: The Cowichan ruling isn’t a threat to private property https://policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/12/cowichan-land-ruling-explained/ To recognize aboriginal title is not to abolish property rights, but to uphold them https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-cowichan-aboriginal-first-nation-indigenous-property-rights/ What the Musqueam rights recognition agreement means and what it doesn’t https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/musqueam-rights-recognition-agreement-explained-9.7128504 Real-estate firm bulk buys $30 million of downtown Toronto condos: ‘They’re sitting empty’ https://www.thestar.com/real-estate/real-estate-firm-bulk-buys-30-million-of-downtown-toronto-condos-theyre-sitting-empty/article_899ba81b-b385-43ad-9370-86178d487187.html Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

    35 min
  4. Will Baby Boomers Leave Behind a Housing Glut?

    Jun 12

    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 of immigration, population growth, housing supply, and changing housing preferences in shaping Canada's future. Topics Covered: • Baby Boomers and the housing market • Immigration and housing demand • Canada’s aging population • Family-sized housing shortages • Suburban vs. urban living • Housing affordability • Population growth and the economy • The future of Canadian housing policy #HousingCrisis #CanadaHousing #RealEstate #HousingAffordability #Immigration #HousingMarket #CanadianEconomy #MissingMiddlePodcast Chapters: 00:00 Will Baby Boomers Solve the Housing Crisis? 01:28 The Theory: A Coming Flood of Family Homes 03:35 Why Demographics Alone Don't Tell the Full Story 05:55 Immigration and Canada's Population Growth 08:22 Will Canada Be Able to Attract Future Immigrants? 10:30 The Missing Supply of Family-Sized Homes 13:12 Why Suburban Living Isn't Going Away 15:40 Are Planners Misreading Housing Demand? 18:05 What Could Actually Cause a Housing Glut? 20:45 Regional Winners and Losers in Canada's Housing Market 22:15 Team Affordability vs. Team Housing Shortage Research/links: Mike’s piece at the Globe: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/article-housing-baby-boomers-suburban-homes-young-families/ Statcan population projections: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1710005801  Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

    23 min
  5. Toronto’s Housing Crisis Explained with Ron Butler | Live Event

    Jun 10

    Toronto’s Housing Crisis Explained with Ron Butler | Live Event

    Toronto’s housing crisis is no longer just about buying a home, it’s reshaping who can afford to build a future in the city at all. In this special live taping of The Missing Middle Podcast, Sabrina Maddeaux, Mike Moffatt, Cara Stern, and special guest Ron Butler unpack why young families are leaving Toronto, how policy failures created a city of “dog crate” condos and unaffordable homes, and what needs to change before affordability gets even worse. Topics covered include: • Why young families are leaving Toronto and the GTA • The rise of tiny “dog crate” condos • Why missing middle housing is so difficult to build • Zoning delays, development charges, and housing red tape • The future of rentals, condos, and home prices • The Greenbelt debate and urban sprawl • Whether Toronto can still work for middle-class families • Why more young Canadians are leaving Ontario and Canada • Non-market housing, affordability, and the politics shaping the city’s future Subscribe for more conversations on housing, affordability, and the future of Canada’s middle class. Chapters: 0:00 – Live From Toronto: The Housing Crisis Debate Begins 1:42 – Why Young Families Are Leaving Toronto 5:08 – The Reality of Buying a Home in the GTA 8:11 – Why Toronto Only Builds Mansions or Tiny Condos 11:24 – Are “Dog Crate” Condos Doomed? 14:37 – Missing Middle Housing & Zoning Failures 18:02 – The Greenbelt, Sprawl, and Housing Politics 21:10 – Renting for Life in Toronto 24:02 – Should Young Buyers Wait to Purchase? 26:12 – Non-Market Housing vs Market Housing 29:04 – Predictions for Toronto’s Housing Future Research: ‘It’s not like we’re sitting on our hands.’ Toronto’s biggest landlord sees 7 more complexes fall into critical disrepair https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/it-s-not-like-we-re-sitting-on-our-hands-torontos-biggest-landlord-sees-7/article_dc443926-e4b8-11ef-ab56-6f7d86f12c53.html Drug deals in doorways and a stranger in the living room: Why Toronto Community Housing residents say its $38M security force is failing them https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/drug-deals-in-doorways-and-a-stranger-in-the-living-room-why-toronto-community-housing/article_2b7633ac-d86b-4fde-9e4e-5e308f4dff5a.html Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

    56 min
  6. Why Strong Communities Don’t Happen by Accident

    Jun 5

    Why Strong Communities Don’t Happen by Accident

    Why does modern life feel so disconnected? In this episode, Cara Stern sits down with journalist and Scout leader Harrison Lowman to talk about the decline of community in Canada, and what it takes to rebuild it. From scouting and volunteering to neighbourhood pubs, churches, and “third spaces,” they explore why strong communities don’t happen automatically, how urban design shapes social connection, and why so many people feel isolated despite living closer together than ever before. They also discuss parenting, trust, loneliness, suburban life, condo living, and the importance of showing up for your neighbours. Topics covered: Why people feel more isolated todayThe decline of volunteering in CanadaHow urban design affects communityWhy “third spaces” matterParenting, support systems, and “the village”High-trust vs low-trust societiesHow scouting builds community and leadershipWhat it takes to know your neighbours againSubscribe for more conversations on housing, cities, policy, and the future of Canada. Chapters: 00:00 Why Community Is More Than Good Urban Design 02:22 Scouts, Service, and Teaching Kids to Contribute 04:04 Why Modern Life Makes Community Harder to Build 07:47 Third Places, Neighbours, and High-Trust Communities 11:55 A Surprise Pie and the Power of Trust 14:55 Finding Community Through Volunteering and Shared Purpose 17:17 You Have to Be a Villager to Have a Village 19:34 Can We Design Communities That Bring People Together? Research/links: » Volunteer wellbeing: what works and who benefits?  https://whatworkswellbeing.org/resources/volunteer-wellbeing-what-works-and-who-benefits/  Exploring the Effects of Volunteering on the Social, Mental, and Physical Health and Well-being of Volunteers: An Umbrella Review - PMC  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10159229/ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

    22 min
  7. Answering Your Biggest Questions About Canada’s Housing Crisis

    Jun 3

    Answering Your Biggest Questions About Canada’s Housing Crisis

    Why are young Canadians leaving cities? Why are seniors staying in homes that are too big for them? And can Canada lower housing costs without cutting quality of life even further? In this listener Q&A episode of The Missing Middle, Sabrina Maddeaux and Cara Stern answer audience questions on housing affordability, immigration, downsizing, social isolation, wage stagnation, the Greenbelt, and why building more “missing middle” housing has become so difficult in Canada. Topics covered: Why seniors aren’t downsizingThe shortage of family-sized homesHousing prices vs stagnant wagesSocial isolation and unaffordable citiesImmigration and housing demandThe Greenbelt debateWhat young Canadians can do politicallyIf you enjoy the episode, subscribe and leave a comment with your own question for a future mailbag episode. Eamon  Seniors are lonely, rich, and live in houses that are too big, often in desirable neighbourhoods. Young people are desperate for housing, poor, and looking for roommates. Why not create a tax incentive for seniors to free up rooms in their houses for young people? I think a vacancy tax is punitive, but a tax incentive could unlock housing in a win-win (rather than zero sum) way for willing participants. Thoughts?  Kate In your second-time homebuyer article you mention that various government initiatives could lower newly built housing costs by up to 15% which would free up more family sized homes "making it easier for seniors to downsize". How would lowering the cost of newly built homes by 15% make it easier for seniors to downsize? In my view, the more significant factor facing senior downsizers is not the cost of new housing but the scarcity of appealing post-move options for them.  Mary (edited for length)  I am a boomer with two millennial children who haven't yet reached middle-class milestones like stable employment or homeownership. I believe factors other than parental status are at play: 1) Are houses more expensive, or are incomes simply failing to keep up with declining purchasing power? 2) Given the rise in single-person households, why is there so much social isolation, and how does the difficulty of making connections in urban environments impact the ability for young people to save and enter the housing market? Chris Jeanneret and came from the comments section of our Greenbelt episode:  Is the Greenbelt even practical for "affordable" housing, or does it only provide more land for luxury country estates?  @canucklhead  Isn't the obvious solution here to keep immigration low for the next few years to keep pressuring rents lower? Wouldn't this be the easiest solution to help affordability for everyone?  Emily writes:  I see what is happening to those under 25 and it is awful. How can I get involved? What steps can I take that will make the most difference? Do you know of a group in Edmonton organizing that is making a real difference especially in the "missing middle".  Chapters:  00:00Mailbag Special: Your Housing Questions Answered 00:23Should Seniors Rent Out Empty Bedrooms? 02:57Will Cheaper New Homes Help Seniors Downsize? 05:07Why Millennials Are Falling Behind 06:00Social Isolation, Third Places & Housing Costs 08:05How Housing Affordability Breaks Friendships and Communities 10:54Can the Greenbelt Deliver Affordable Housing? 12:43Is Lower Immigration the Fastest Path to Affordability? 14:16What Canadians Can Do to Push for Change Research/links: The Disappearing "Third Place": Why Making Friends Is Getting Harder https://youtu.be/WYFTsrvwr0o?si=IIGS4jllTN2dKT5h Grow Together Edmonton https://www.growtogetheryeg.com/ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

    17 min
  8. The Story Behind Canada’s Collapsing Fertility Rate

    May 29

    The Story Behind Canada’s Collapsing Fertility Rate

    Canada’s fertility rate has fallen to just 1.25 children per woman, one of the lowest in the developed world. But what’s actually driving the decline? Are fewer Canadians having children, or are the ones having kids simply choosing to have fewer of them? In this episode of DemograFix, ⁠Mike Moffatt and ⁠Cara Stern break down the data behind Canada’s collapsing birth rate. They explore why more women are remaining childless, why one-child families have become the norm, and how housing costs, delayed parenthood, childcare, culture, and changing lifestyles are reshaping family formation across the country. Topics discussed: Why Vancouver and Victoria have some of the world’s lowest fertility ratesThe surprising link between housing affordability and birth ratesWhy millennials and Gen Z still say they want kidsHow family sizes changed from the 1980s to todayWhether education actually reduces fertilityWhy cities are losing young familiesThe growing gap between the number of children Canadians want and the number they actually haveIf Canada wants higher birth rates, what would it actually take to make raising children affordable again? #Canada #HousingCrisis #FertilityRate #BirthRate #Millennials #GenZ #Economy #Housing #Population #Parenting #Childcare #CanadianPolitics #Demographics #TheMissingMiddle Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: Canada’s Ultra-Low Fertility Rate 01:08 What Fertility Rates Measure — And Why Canada Is Different 01:59 Housing Costs, Cities, and Why Young Families Are Leaving 03:49 Are Fewer Women Having Children? 04:32 Delayed Parenthood and The Rise In Childlessness 06:01 Marriage, Religion, Immigration, and Fertility Trends 08:03 Does Higher Education Actually Reduce Birth Rates? 10:24 From Three-Child Families To One-Child Households 12:26 Housing Costs, Bedrooms, and Raising Kids In Canada 14:22 Canadians Still Want More Children 17:28 From Overpopulation Fears To Population Collapse 19:44 The Growing Gap Between Family Goals and Reality 20:05 What Governments Could Do To Make Raising Kids Easier Research/links: Proportion of women aged 20 to 49 without children, by age group and selected sociodemographic characteristics, 2024 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/260126/t001a-eng.htm ‘One and Done’ is the new norm: inside Canada’s growing one-child family trend https://www.babycenter.ca/a25053886/one-and-done-is-the-new-norm-inside-Canadas-growing-one-child-family-trend  Living arrangements of children in Canada: A century of change https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2014/statcan/75-006-x/75-006-2014001-4-eng.pdf Fertility in Canada, 1921 to 2022 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/91f0015m/91f0015m2024001-eng.htm  Credits: Mike Moffatt https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt https://bsky.app/profile/mikepmoffatt.bsky.social Cara Stern https://x.com/carastern https://bsky.app/profile/carastern.bsky.social Meredith Martin  https://twitter.com/meredithmartin https://bsky.app/profile/meredithmartin.bsky.social Sean Foreman @seanegertonforeman https://bsky.app/profile/seanforeman.bsky.social University of Ottawa Co-op Student,  Kelly Hoban Brought to you by the Missing Middle Initiative https://www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

    22 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.7
out of 5
54 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Cara Stern, Mike Moffatt, and Meredith Martin
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    189
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Missing Middle Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Missing Middle Podcast

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