The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) released its annual Rental Market Report last week. With the national vacancy rate hitting a historic low and rent prices on a relentless climb, renters across the nation are feeling the squeeze. In bustling urban centers like Toronto and Vancouver, the role of condominiums as makeshift rental units reveals a housing landscape in flux, with implications that touch everyone from anxious first-time homebuyers to investors looking to capitalize on the market.In this 23-minute discussion, Smart Prosperity Institute economist Mike Moffatt and journalist Cara Stern discuss vacancy rates, rent averages and what the numbers really tell us.Other reading:Rental Market Report - January 2024 (cmhc-schl.gc.ca)https://www.bankofcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mpr-2024-01-24.pdfhttps://rentals.ca/https://www.homelesshub.ca/sites/default/files/attachments/Whitzman-Human_Rights_Based_Supply_Report-EN_1.pdfHosted 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 Canadian federal government announced a 2-year cap on international student permits making for some big headlines last week. This will severely limit the number of international students attending campuses in Ontario and British Columbia where the number of international students have been climbing in recent years. The existence of Public Private Partnerships (or PPPs) between public and private colleges is something not many citizens of ever consider, but it’s been a significant factor in the Canadian housing crisis. In this 33-minute discussion, Smart Prosperity Institute economist Mike Moffatt and journalist Cara Stern talk to Alex Usher, President of the consulting firm Higher Education Strategy Associates, about Public Private Partnerships or PPPs and International students. Other reading:https://higheredstrategy.com/a-short-explainer-of-public-private-partnerships-in-ontario-colleges/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-international-student-visa-cap-miller-immigration/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/miller-cap-international-students-1.7090779Hosted 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.

Journalist and political commentator Sabrina Maddeaux discusses her decision to seek the Conservative nomination, focusing on the housing crisis, generational perspectives, political challenges, and her unique position in a competitive conservative nomination race.

Politicians, policy makers, and journalists all talk about the middle class and how well they are doing economically speaking. Middle-class voters make up the bulk of the voting population so it makes political sense to court them. But what exactly does middle class mean today? Who is considered middle class and what makes them middle class?In this 23-minute discussion, Smart Prosperity Institute economist Mike Moffatt and journalist Cara Stern discuss three buckets of economic citizens: renters, homeowners with no mortgage, and homeowners with large mortgages - and how different their economic lives really are.Hosted by Mike Moffatt  & Cara SternProduced by Meredith MartinThis podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation 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.

The city of Toronto is currently contemplating a significant property tax hike as part of its proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The move is generating widespread discussion and debate among residents, businesses, and policymakers. In this 23-minute discussion, Smart Prosperity Institute  economist Mike Moffatt and journalist Cara Stern discuss the proposed tax increase and the possible implications for the highest property tax increase since Toronto was amalgamated more than 25 years ago.Hosted by Mike Moffatt  & Cara SternProduced by Meredith MartinThis podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation 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.

The podcast explores Canada's economic decline compared to developing economies, debt dynamics over time, origins of debt creation, social contract implications, youth entrepreneurship challenges, and Canada's immigration advantage for future growth.

Yesterday was the first time Mike or Cara ever heard Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signalling that his government would work to cap the number of international students allowed in the country, tying the numbers to available housing. Mike and Cara discuss what this development means and how it could even work.Hosted by Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern.Thank you to the PLACE Centre. This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation.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.

In a throwback to the post-war era, Trudeau's federal government is looking into creating a catalogue of pre-approved home designs that they hope will speed up housing development. But why do they even matter, and where can they go wrong?Hosted by Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern, and produced by Meredith Martin.Thank you to the PLACE Centre. This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation.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.

Canadian bond yields have been fairly volatile in recent weeks...but what does that even mean, and why does it matter to anyone outside of the finance world?Mike gives a primer on what bond yields are, and why the middle class should understand and care about them.Hosted by Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern, and produced by Meredith Martin.Thank you to the PLACE Centre. This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation.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.

British Columbia's Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon joins Mike and Cara to talk about the big plans his government has to make it easier for developers to build homes. We cover everything from zoning, to immigration, and building with timber.Hosted by Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern, and produced by Meredith Martin.Thank you to the PLACE Centre. This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation.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.