From breath mints and car break-ins to bouncers at the Rogers store, urban life is starting to feel a lot more “on alert.” In this episode of The Missing Middle, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux examine the rise of crime and disorder in our cities, as well as the disturbing data behind transit violence. However, this isn’t just about safety; it’s about the future of our neighbourhoods. If people don’t feel safe on the streetcar or the sidewalk, can we ever truly build the dense, walkable, “missing middle” communities Canada so desperately needs?
This surge in disorder acts as a "hidden tax" on urban living, forcing residents to choose between the convenience of the city and the perceived security of the suburbs. By analyzing these shifts, we uncover how a lack of safety might be the biggest hurdle yet to solving our housing goals.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: Crime, Disorder, and the Future of Cities
00:50 Car Break-ins and Security Measures
04:23 Personal Experiences on the Streetcar
05:02 By the Numbers: Rising Assaults on Canadian Transit
07:07 Why Density Requires Public Trust
09:00 Why Spouting Stats Doesn't Change Minds
13:58 The Political Disconnect on Urban Safety
16:49 Finding Solutions: Justice Reform and Mental Health
18:10 Why "visible progress" matters more than spreadsheets
Research links:
Transit violence rising across Canada — in some cities by nearly 300%
Chris Arnande tweet
The Slow-Motion Exodus: How GTA Outmigration Became Ontario’s Defining Trend
The Politics of Safety: Why Bail Reform Is Striking a Chord with Canadians
Sabrina Maddeaux: Canada’s suburban crime surge is exposing years of national security neglect
It's Time to Talk About America's Disorder Problem
Related reading/listening:
OFF THE RAILS: Data exposes crime, mental illness at TTC’s track level
More than 70 per cent of Ontarians feel less safe on transit than a year ago, survey suggests
Homelessness, Social Disorder and Public Transit in Calgary, Canada: Examining perspectives from law enforcement through the lens of critical social theory
Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux
Produced by Meredith Martin
This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation and brought to you by the Smart Prosperity Institute.
