The Missing Middle Podcast

Why is Canadian housing so expensive and why are we getting so little for our money? In this episode of the Missing Middle Podcast, Mike Moffatt talks with Adam Mongrain of More and Better Housing about how Canada can build more affordable, better-quality homes while also tackling climate change and housing affordability.

They dig into why Canada struggles to build the “missing middle” housing that exists in cities around the world, and how zoning rules, building codes, construction costs and a lack of standardization are making it harder and more expensive to build the homes Canadians actually want. Adam explains why legalizing density isn’t about deregulation, how European-style housing could help lower costs, why Canadian elevators can cost four times as much as comparable ones in Switzerland, and how modern construction methods could transform the housing market.

They also discuss climate-resilient housing, the need for millions more social and not-for-profit homes, and the five “game changers” that More and Better Housing believes could help Canada build more and build better.

Chapters:
00:00 — Why Is Missing Middle Housing Missing?
02:27 — What Does “More and Better Housing” Mean?
04:51 — Can Better Housing Also Be More Affordable?
07:43 — Why New Housing Isn’t Worth the Price
11:23 — What Does “Legalizing Density” Actually Mean?
15:37 — How Building Codes Drive Up Housing Costs
19:14 — Why Factory-Built Housing Needs New Standards
21:57 — Building Housing for a Changing Climate
23:27 — Can Canada Afford Millions of Nonprofit Homes?

Research/links:
More and Better Housing Canada website: https://www.moreandbetterhousing.ca/ 
This is how we could fix a problem Canada has been overlooking for decadeshttps://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/this-is-how-we-could-fix-a-problem-canada-has-been-overlooking-for-decades/article_6970b764-8d33-4d7d-87d6-be8efea8038c.html 
Blueprint for More and Better Housing: https://housingandclimate.ca/blueprint/
Four Pathways to Housing Affordability report: https://housingandclimate.ca/2024/11/19/fourpathways/

Credits
Mike Moffatt https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt
https://bsky.app/profile/mikepmoffatt.bsky.social
Sabrina Maddeaux https://x.com/SabrinaMaddeaux
Meredith Martin  https://twitter.com/meredithmartin
https://bsky.app/profile/meredithmartin.bsky.social
Sean Foreman @seanegertonforeman
https://bsky.app/profile/seanforeman.bsky.social
Cara Stern https://x.com/carastern
https://bsky.app/profile/carastern.bsky.social
University Of Ottawa Co-op Student:
Kelly Hoban

Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/
Brought to you by the Missing Middle Initiative https://www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux
Produced by Meredith Martin
Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

Are Canadian elections actually fair if 7 million citizens are completely excluded from the process?
In this episode of The Missing Middle, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt unpack the hidden flaw in Canada’s electoral system: the complete disenfranchisement of children and young people. As Canada’s population ages, politicians are incentivized to cater to older voters while ignoring the long-term economic interests of younger generations.
We explore a radical yet historical solution: proxy voting. 
What if parents could cast ballots on behalf of their children? Could giving every citizen a voice from birth fix our policy incentives? And is it an impossible reform? 

Chapters:
00:00 - Should Children Have a Vote in Canada?
03:34 - How Demographic Voting Shapes Economic Policy
05:48 - The Issue With Relying on Youth Voter Turnout to Solve Things
08:13 - What Is Proxy Voting for Parents?
10:22 - Would Proxy Voting Lead to Family-Friendly Policy?
12:17 - Can We Trust Parents to Vote in Their Child's Interest?
14:49 - Early Civic Engagement and Primary Caregiver Voting Rules
17:52 - Is Electoral Reform Truly Realistic in Canada?
22:52 - Why Power Disincentivizes Democratic Change 

Research/Links:
Vlandas study: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/980470 

Tobi Lutke’s idea that pensioners be excluded from voting is offensive. The concern behind it isn’t
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/article-tobi-lutke-shopify-tech-pensioners-vote/

How to give children the vote
https://milescorak.com/2012/04/20/how-to-give-children-the-vote/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Citizenship as a privilege or as a right: should children be given the vote?
https://milescorak.com/2013/03/28/citizenship-as-a-privilege-or-as-a-right-should-children-be-given-the-vote/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Should Children be Given the Vote?: Miles Corak at TEDxWaterloo 2013
https://youtu.be/anYFFlOtZKo?si=PYrUE7U_0RFuK2-y

Should children vote? I argue that there are reasonable ways to give children the vote in an interview with CBC radio
https://milescorak.com/2014/12/14/should-children-vote-i-argue-that-there-are-reasonable-ways-to-give-children-the-vote-in-an-interview-with-cbc-radio/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Why we should give children the vote
⁠https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/economy-lab/why-we-should-give-children-the-vote/article4101391/

Do Husbands and Wives Pool Their Resources? Evidence from the United Kingdom Child Benefit
https://www.jstor.org/stable/146179?origin=crossref&seq=1

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux
Produced by Meredith Martin
Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

Ontario has pledged to build 1.5 million new homes by 2031, but can our power grid actually handle the demand? In this episode of Classonomics, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down the $100B–$120B "last mile" infrastructure crisis quietly halting major housing projects across the province, including thousands of stalled homes in Brooklin, Whitby, and Ajax.
From the historical legacy of Sir Adam Beck’s publicly owned hydro model to modern electrification demands like EVs and heat pumps, we discuss why developers are being pushed to fund local grid expansions and what policy fixes, such as tax-exempt utility bonds and reforming the tax code’s 90/10 rule, can keep Ontario’s housing goals alive.
Topics Covered:
Can Ontario’s Grid Handle 1.5 Million New Homes?
Mega Transmission Lines vs. The Real Grid Bottleneck
What is the "Last Mile" in Power Distribution?
Case Study: Why 10,000 Homes Stalled in Brooklin, ON
Skyrocketing Household Load: Heat Pumps & EV Chargers
History Lesson: Sir Adam Beck & Ontario’s Original Power Vision
"Build Ahead" vs. "Pay to Play": The Shift in Infrastructure Financing
The Role of Local Distribution Companies (LDCs)
Two Policy Fixes: Tax-Exempt Utility Bonds & Reforming the 90/10 Rule
#OntarioHousing #CanadianPolitics #HousingCrisis #EnergyGrid #Infrastructure #TheMissingMiddle #SabrinaMaddeaux #MikeMoffatt

Chapters:
00:00 Can Ontario's Grid Power 1.5 Million Homes?
01:43 The "Last Mile" Bottleneck & Stalled Developments
04:00 EV Demand & Ontario's Electrification History
05:29 Public Utilities vs. "Pay for Growth"
07:14 Local Distribution Companies & Funding Friction
10:11 Two Policy Solutions to Fix Grid Financing
12:07 Final Thoughts & Outro

Research/links:
North America’s electricity grid is ready to grow. Manufacturers needed to build it are placing their bets
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-north-americas-electricity-grid-is-ready-to-grow-manufacturers-needed/

Electrical Load map:
https://oeb.planview.ca/Ontario-capacity-map/

Debt/Deficit MissingMiddle Episode referred to in video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2zza3GwZ7E

Why a multibillion-dollar electricity infrastructure gap is threatening Ontario’s housing goals
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-ontario-cant-build-homes-without-rebuilding-power-grid/

Tracking housing supply progress
https://www.ontario.ca/page/tracking-housing-supply-progress#section-0

Ontario Launches Expert Panel to Strengthen Local Electricity Distribution
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1006663/ontario-launches-expert-panel-to-strengthen-local-electricity-distribution?utm_source=chatgpt.com

2025 Ontario Economic - Outlook and Fiscal Review
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oTK_RueWPjD1Oc1YXVlT8nslnx9Ue_w6/view

Forward Guidance: Canada’s Energy Future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bySyMcg-p_4

Adam Beck
https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-adam-beck

Build Faster Fund
https://opencouncil.ca/program/building-faster-fund/

An early history of hydroelectric power in Niagara Falls
https://nflibrary.ca/articles/an-early-history-of-hydroelectric-power-in-niagara-falls

Ontario’s electric history
https://thevarsity.ca/2026/02/03/ontarios-electric-history/

To Build More Homes, Ontario Launching Building Faster Fund and Expanding Strong Mayor Powers
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1003397/to-build-more-homes-ontario-launching-building-faster-fund-and-expanding-strong-mayor-powers

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux
Produced by Meredith Martin
Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

Canada’s trade relationship with the United States is facing major challenges. In this replay of a live episode recorded on Friday August 28, Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern break down Canada’s trade war with the U.S., the impact of tariffs, and what it all means for the Canadian economy.
They explore how tariffs and trade tensions could affect Canadian jobs, businesses, inflation, housing, taxation, financial markets, and economic stability while answering questions directly from the live audience.
Whether you’re a policymaker, investor, business owner, or simply trying to understand what’s happening to Canada’s economy, this conversation offers context and analysis on some of the biggest economic issues facing Canadians today.
In this episode:
Canada’s trade war and economic relationship with the U.S.
The impact of tariffs on the Canadian economy
How trade uncertainty could affect housing and affordability
Taxation and government policy
Financial markets and economic stability
What tariffs could mean for Canadian businesses and consumers
Live audience questions and answers
What Canadians should be watching as trade tensions evolve
Watch the full conversation for an in-depth discussion of Canada’s economic outlook and the challenges ahead.
#Canada #CanadianEconomy #Tariffs #TradeWar #USCanada #CanadianPolitics #Housing #Economy #Inflation #MikeMoffatt #CaraStern

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to the Trade Dispute
02:12 Tariffs and the New NAFTA
04:23 Labeling, Language, and Trade Strategy
06:40 Canada's Trade Diversification Challenges
08:36 Taxing the Wealthy and Intergenerational Equity
12:30 Interprovincial Trade Barriers and Alcohol
16:38 Impacts on Housing and Construction
23:57 US Bonds and Canadian Investment
36:12 Bank of Canada and Interest Rate Policy
42:17 Government Support for Small Housing
44:37 Development Charges and Urban Planning
46:21 Closing Remarks and Next Steps

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux
Produced by Meredith Martin
Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

Ever wonder why it's nearly impossible to find a brand-new, modest starter home? In this episode of Classonomics, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down the real-world housing economics driving the extinction of small detached homes across Canada and why developers are practically forced to build McMansions instead.
From flat municipal fees to setback regulations and astronomical land costs, we run through the numbers we explain why smaller homes no longer make financial sense for builders, and what policy changes could actually fix it.
The disappearance of homes under 1,500 square feet
Serviced land pricing and lot width economics
How flat municipal development fees penalize small builds
Setback rules and wasted building space
Construction economies of scale
Fixed overhead and pre-construction costs
Policy solutions to bring back missing middle housing

Chapters:

00:00 Small Detached Homes Are Disappearing
02:02 Why Developers Don’t Build Smaller Homes
03:01 The Real Cost of Building a Small Home
05:27 Why Land Costs Favour Bigger Houses
07:43 How Lot Rules Make Small Homes Harder to Build
09:33 How to Bring Down the Cost of Land
10:12 Development Charges Favour Bigger Homes
13:39 Why Bigger Homes Have Lower Construction Costs
16:15 The Costs That Don’t Shrink With the House
17:47 Why a $600K Home Costs So Much

Research:

https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=311483 

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux
Produced by Meredith Martin
Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/