The Missing Middle with Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern

The conversation explores the implications of the massive wealth transfer from baby boomers to millennials in Canada, discussing the potential for economic inequality, the concept of "invisible inheritances", and the changing dynamics of the middle class. It highlights the challenges faced by younger generations in accessing wealth and opportunities, and the resulting shifts in political views and social contracts.Links:Boomers’ Inheritance Plans Up in the ‘Heir’ The next wave of trickle-down wealth is upon us Younger Canadians Relying On "Great Wealth Transfer" To Achieve Financial Goals But Expectations May Not Match Reality: Vanguard StudyGuest Host: Sabrina Maddeaux Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern Produced by Meredith Martin This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation and brought to you by the Smart Prosperity Institute.

Mike and Cara discuss the recent stimulus plans introduced by the Canadian and Ontario governments, which include rebate checks and a GST holiday. They explore the economic context behind these initiatives, the disconnect between economic indicators and the lived experiences of Canadians, particularly young people, and critique the effectiveness of these policies. The conversation highlights the need for sustainable solutions to address the underlying issues of inflation, housing, and the  intergenerational wealth transfer from the young to the old. Also, Cara gets really mad about the term “vibecession.”Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern Produced by Meredith Martin This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation and brought to you by the Smart Prosperity Institute.

Ontario is by far the province with the biggest population, and is growing fast, but it’s the second worst when it comes to building homes. In this conversation, journalist Cara Stern and economist Mike Moffatt discuss the severe housing crisis in Ontario, highlighting the province's poor performance in building new homes relative to its population growth. They analyze the types of homes being constructed, the impact of homelessness, and the responses from municipal leaders. The discussion also compares Ontario's housing policies with those of British Columbia and Quebec, emphasizing the wild increase of development charges and zoning regulations. Cara and Mike think a provincial election is imminent and that political accountability is needed. Ontario’s home building record is dismal and the Ford government is ignoring its own housing promises. Links:Ontario Communities Falling Behind on HomebuildingOntario will build 1.5 million homes, housing minister promises as projections slumpHotdog meme - we’re all trying to find the guy who did thisFour Pathways To Housing AffordabilityMass Timber Can Get Homes Built FasterHosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern Produced by Meredith Martin This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation and brought to you by the Smart Prosperity Institute.

In this episode, Cara and Mike discuss the ongoing housing crisis and its political implications, emphasizing the need for effective solutions to enhance affordability. They unpack the four key pathways to housing affordability, including the integration of transportation costs, the impact of utility bills, and the challenges of homeowners insurance. The conversation highlights the importance of deregulation and innovative policies to create more affordable housing options while addressing the political landscape surrounding these issues.Links for further reading:Ontario Communities Falling Behind on HomebuildingBLUEPRINT FOR MORE AND BETTER HOUSINGAbacus DataExample of pyramid shaped condoHosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern Produced by Meredith Martin This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation and brought to you by the Smart Prosperity Institute.

This conversation explores the potential of mass timber as a sustainable building material, its role in the housing construction sector, and the skills needed for young people to thrive in this emerging industry. The discussion highlights the growth of mass timber, the educational requirements for entering the field, the challenges faced in its adoption, and the broader opportunities in decarbonizing industries.Links:Canada's Green Skills TransitionGuest: Nicholas Renzetti Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern Produced by Meredith Martin This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation and brought to you by the Smart Prosperity Institute.

It doesn't matter how many times politicians say the economy is doing great. If someone can't afford a home, they're not going to believe you.Cara and Mike discuss the significant impact of the housing crisis on Donald Trump's election victory, exploring how inflation and economic concerns shifted political views. They analyze migration patterns affecting electoral college votes and suggest that building more homes could help retain political power in progressive cities.Links:America Hires a StrongmanThe Inflation Factor: It Wasn’t Just the Economy How inflation and economic concerns drove voter sentiment. Pocketbook and Sociotropic Economic Voting: How Does Inflation Affect Voting Decisions?Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern Produced by Meredith Martin This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation and brought to you by the Smart Prosperity Institute.

Many cities in North America have been adding bike lanes in the past few years, especially as demand for outdoor activities spiked during the pandemic. Those lanes have been crucial at keeping cyclists safe, but seeing the road lose a lane has upset drivers, especially those who rely on their cars. Enter Doug Ford, in Ontario. The premier has introduced legislation that will require municipalities to obtain approval from the province for new bike lanes, as well as removing bike lanes that are already there – even ones that just finally finished construction. Mike and Cara discuss why this is such a popular idea, even though it won't solve Toronto's real congestion issues. They highlight the need for effective solutions to traffic congestion and the role of government in addressing these challenges, while also considering the future of bike lanes and the importance of public advocacy.Links: Bloor Street West Bike Lane Pilot Project EvaluationBloor Street West Complete Street ExtensionThe left is losing the battle for the bike — as it should | National Post Breaking the Bottlenecks : Congestion Solutions for Canada Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern Produced by Meredith Martin This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation and brought to you by the Smart Prosperity Institute.

Over and over again, we see the same problems come up when building anything physical in this country, such as a house or a train. Costs start to balloon and every project seems to end up over budget – or at least costs us more than it would cost to build in other countries.More Neighbours Toronto’s founder Eric Lombardi attributes this largely to a system of soft corruption.In this conversation, he highlights how convoluted processes and lack of transparency lead to inflated costs and diminished outcomes. He compares Canada's approach to infrastructure with that of European countries, emphasizing the need for standardization and in-house expertise. Lombardi proposes solutions to improve procurement processes and accountability, advocating for a more efficient and transparent system that prioritizes taxpayer value.Links:Canada can no longer afford to ignore its ‘soft corruption’ problemhttps://thehub.ca/2024/10/03/eric-lombardi-canada-can-no-longer-afford-to-ignore-its-soft-corruption-problem/Altus Grouphttps://www.altusgroup.com/https://www.bildgta.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-GTA-Municipal-Benchmarking-Study-Our-number-7147-Final.pdfMore NeighboursGuest: Eric Lombardi, https://x.com/EricDLombardiHosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern Produced by Meredith Martin This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation and brought to you by the Smart Prosperity Institute.

A lot of people get into advocacy for better cities and urbanism by watching what’s perhaps YouTube’s biggest urbanism channel,  @NotJustBikes . But that leads many to think that with enough advocacy, their hometowns could one day also look like a city in the Netherlands. Not Just Bikes’ Jason Slaughter says it’s not that simple.In this conversation, journalist Cara Stern and economist Mike Moffatt talk to Jason about what North American cities can learn from the Netherlands. They explore the principles of Dutch urban design, the importance of context in urban planning, and the need for holistic approaches that go beyond just implementing bike lanes. Links:Why Canadians Can't Bike in the Winter (but Finnish people can):https://youtu.be/Uhx-26GfCBU?si=uB-fSJYD0ouxDHivStrong Towns:https://www.strongtowns.org/Guest: Jason Slaughter, Not Just Bikes https://www.youtube.com/c/notjustbikesHosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern 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, Cara Stern is mad. A majority of MPs recently voted to increase Old Age Security for seniors aged 65-74, regardless of whether they actually need more money.She and Mike Moffatt explore the structure of Canada's pension programs, the purpose of OAS, and the financial burden it places on the federal budget – and younger workers, many of whom are struggling to pay their housing bills.They cover the disparities in income among seniors, the challenges of targeting benefits, and the political dynamics surrounding OAS proposals.Also, we need a co-host to fill in while Cara is on mat leave! If you're interested, send us a resume with one-minute video of why you'd be good for this role to [email protected]  Links:Canadian Museum of HistoryOld Age Security pension recovery taxDisaggregated trends in poverty from the 2021 Census of PopulationJennifer Robson https://carleton.ca/politicalmanagement/people/jennifer-robson/Shooting a fly with an elephant gun: The Bloc’s ultimatum on seniors’ benefitsMost Canadians support or somewhat support extending Old Age Security benefits increase to seniors 65 to 74.Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern Produced by Meredith Martin This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation and brought to you by the Smart Prosperity Institute.