The Missing Middle with Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux

The hosts dive into a quirky comparison between cheesy Jean-Claude Van Damme movies and Canada's rental housing crisis. They discuss the 1970s tax strategy, MURBs, as a possible solution to skyrocketing rents. The conversation touches on the challenges small investors face and the psychological misconceptions about the housing market as a guaranteed money-maker. They also explore the implications of reintroducing the MERB tax provision to boost rental stock, while examining the financial perks of operating rental apartments.

​​In this episode of The Missing Middle, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux unpack the controversy around REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) and their role in Canada’s housing crisis. Are REITs really blocking affordable housing, or is the real issue deeper than greedy landlords? Mike and Sabrina break down how REITs work, why they’ve become political scapegoats, and what actually needs to change to build more truly affordable homes. If you’ve ever wondered who should be our landlords — mom-and-pops, corporations, or governments — this is the conversation you need to hear.Subscribe for weekly deep dives on housing, urban planning, and Canada’s affordability crisis.Drop your thoughts below: Who do YOU think should be Canada’s landlords?Chapters00:00 Introduction01:55 Who should our landlords be?03:44 Real Estate Investment Trusts 04:45 Mutual fund trust05:45 Canada has an undeveloped REIT system06:53 REIT push back on affordable housing09:12 Who is to blame for affordable housing not getting built?10:30 All of the other things that make it expensive to build12:09 Should the government build more affordable housing?12:37 Someone has to pay so who should it be? 16:11 What do we mean by affordable units?Research/links:Ford government scrapped Toronto affordable housing requirements after pushback from three REITs, documents showReddit threadEveryone Wants Rentals, but No One Wants LandlordsREIT dataHosted 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.

In this episode of The Missing Middle, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down the massive wave of federal public service job cuts and how they’re slamming young Canadians the hardest. From thousands of lost student and contract jobs to long-term impacts on housing, wages, and health, they reveal how a shrinking government workforce could shut an entire generation out of shaping Canada’s future. They also dive into what this means for unions, the economy, and why real public service reform must include young voices. If you care about youth employment and the future of Canada’s workforce, you don’t want to miss this!Chapters00:00 Introduction01:00 Federal public service job cuts explained02:54 Our Video03:46 The cohort effect and some historical context05:12 The lack of young public sector workers in shaping policy07:15 Mike’s experience in the federal public service09:26 The talent vacuum10:30 The effects of graduating in a recession12:26 Ripple effects in the broader economy13:45 Graduating in a recession can impact your health16:30 Job hoarding and the role of unions20:24 Future perspectivesResearch/links:Federal public service job cuts fall heavily on young workersSabrina Maddeaux: Striking union should ditch anti-millennial contract demandHow Colleges Broke Canadian ImmigrationThe Short- and Long-Term Career Effects of Graduating in a RecessionLife-Cycle Impacts of Graduating in a RecessionHosted 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.

Toronto's housing market is facing a crisis, with new condo sales plummeting 97% since 2021. This decline could cost $6.6 billion in lost tax revenue and lead to significant job losses in the construction industry. The hosts discuss the need for tax cuts, like eliminating the GST on new homes, to boost construction without increasing prices. They also debate the role of foreign buyers and international students in the recovery process, highlighting the delicate balance between investment and affordability.

Urban planner Alex Beheshti, a passionate advocate for a Canadian Zoning Atlas, joins the discussion on Canada’s convoluted zoning laws. He highlights how confusing regulations obstruct effective housing policies. The conversation delves into the urgent need for centralized, machine-readable zoning data to facilitate better planning decisions. With insights drawn from successful international models, Alex argues that a unified zoning approach could transform housing outcomes in Canada. The episode reveals how essential better data is to overcoming the housing crisis.

Why aren’t we seeing more multiplexes in Canadian cities—even after zoning reforms? In this episode of The Missing Middle, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt dig into the surprising roadblocks holding back infill housing. From bizarre bedroom caps to height limits that make 10-plexes impossible, they unpack how cities say "yes" to housing... and then quietly say "no." They call out the red tape, NIMBY politics, and why it might be time for provinces to take the wheel. If you're wondering why the housing crisis isn’t getting better, this one’s for you. (Full disclosure: This episode was recorded on Friday June 18th, before the Toronto city council watered down sixplex legalization, but the conversation remains entirely relevant.)Chapters00:00 Introduction01:51 Push-back to multi-unit buildings03:46 Bedroom limits06:07 Ron Butler episode06:34 The rooming-house factor08:14 Height restrictions and Ottawa story10:40 Restrictions make good architecture difficult12:13 Infil is always harder so restrictions make that even worse14:02 Solutionsresearch/links:Edmonton Zoning Bylaw RenewalCity staff recommend permitting sixplexes in residential areasCity staff recommend allowing sixplexes across all Toronto neighbourhoodsReddit discussion on the above 👆 Toronto city council waters down proposed sixplex legalization, limiting changes to certain neighbourhoodsToronto wrangles with a simple question: What is a multiplex?We recommend you read the City Hall Watcher Substack by Matt ElliottHosted 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.

The discussion digs into the outdated GST rebate system and its disconnect from today's soaring home prices. Homebuyers face challenges as rebates have failed to keep up with inflation. There's a fresh look at potential reforms, especially incentives for first-time buyers and seniors looking to downsize. The podcast explores proposed government actions in response to declining housing starts and highlights the importance of collaboration to enhance housing affordability. Will these adjustments truly benefit the market? Tune in to find out!

The podcast dives into the pressing issue of housing affordability for millennials and Gen Z. It critiques current political strategies, highlighting the disconnect between official messaging and the realities faced by the middle class. Discussions include the ineffectiveness of housing policies focused solely on low-income earners and the political alienation of young voters. There's a keen analysis of the NDP's communication struggles and the need for relatable solutions that address rising living costs and create accessible housing for all.

In this episode of the missing Middle podcast conservative pundit Sabrina Maddeaux and economist Mike Moffatt discuss the current state of immigration in Canada. Together they examine a Bank of Canada report that focuses on the implications of temporary foreign workers on wages.  Mike and Sabrina talk about the challenges faced by new permanent residents, and the ambitious goals set by the Century Initiative for population growth. They explore how these factors intertwine with the housing crisis and the overall economic landscape, emphasizing the need for coherent immigration policies that align with infrastructure and social cohesion.Chapters00:00 Introduction00:52 Bank of Canada report on wages and immigration02:49 The mix of newcomers is different05:33 New immigrants earn less and country of origin impacts wages07:21 This is only becoming more pronounced09:11 The wage gap is shrinking for Permanent Residence 10:08 But it’s a good news, bad news story11:00 The role of wage suppression13:56 How does this impact social cohesion  15:25 The Century Initiative and population growth goalsResearch:The Shift in Canadian Immigration Composition and its Effect on WagesCanada's population needs to be 100 million by 2100Canada on track for 100 million population but public support can’t be taken for granted: Century Initiative CEOThe 'Century Initiative' is the talk of the campaign, but what is it?You Can't Grow a Country Just On Temporary ImmigrationHosted 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.

Ron Butler, a prominent mortgage broker and host of the Angry Mortgage Podcast, joins the discussion with Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt to dissect the Toronto condo market crisis. He reveals how pre-construction purchases during a speculative boom are leading to significant losses for investors. They explore the ironic housing shortage amid a glut of poorly designed condos and the government's role in potential solutions. The conversation raises critical questions about low-rise housing scarcity and the urgent need for innovative, affordable options for families.