Policy fixes to encourage downsizing

Mike recommends removing land transfer taxes, GST on downsizing, easing infill rules and reducing development charges.

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Episode notes

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 taboo around discussing immigration and housing together, transit as a pressure valve for urban sprawl, and why seniors are stuck in family-sized homes. Plus, we explain what’s changing on the show, including two new weekly episodes, DemograFix and Classonomics, and what it means for listeners going forward.

Chapters

00:00 Ask Me Anything 2025 and look ahead

00:45 Meet our editor/technical producer Sean Foreman

03:01 Introducing the new podcast DemograFix

03:52 Introducing Classonomics

04:16 You don’t need to do anything, we promise 🙂

05:01 Meredith’s take on the future of Missing Middle podcasts

07:29 Question from Matthieu Gagnon about walkability

09:56 Rahim Ismail’s Question about the government being out of touch

12:34 Examining the intentionality of the government's lack of response

15:36 Chosing one stakeholder over another

16:46 Vanessa MacDonald’s question about talking about immigration policy