Best Mike Moffatt Podcasts (2025)

1
Why Rent Control Might Be Hurting the People It’s Meant to Help 19:29

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1h ago19:29

19:29

Host Cara Stern is back from parental leave, and she and Mike are jumping right into one of the most debated topics in housing policy — rent control. Inspired by Zohran Mamdani's campaign rent freeze proposal, they dig into how these rules shape the housing market, not just for landlords and tenants, but for entire cities. While rent control offers…

1
Who Gets to Work? Immigration and Labour Policy in Canada with Mikal Skuterud 1:26:19

13h ago1:26:19

1:26:19

Canada’s immigration system isn’t one program; it’s an entire architecture. A maze of pathways, permits, and policies that shape who gets in, who gets to work, and who gets to stay. In this episode, host Marwa Abdou sits down with Dr. Mikal Skuterud, Professor of Economics at the University of Waterloo, and one of Canada’s leading labour economists…

1
How Canada Fell Behind the World on Housing Affordability 19:44

3d ago19:44

19:44

This week on The Missing Middle Podcast, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux bust some myths and take a hard look at Canada’s place in the global housing landscape. Drawing on new OECD data, they reveal why Canada’s housing affordability crisis is among the worst in the developed world—with home prices having risen more than twice as fast as incomes …

1
Do You Have a CRA Horror Story? 15:47

13d ago15:47

15:47

The Canada Revenue Agency is facing a public crisis: long delays, wrong assessments, and frustrated taxpayers. Hosts Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt unpack the CRA’s 100-day “fix,” why it’s only a Band-Aid solution, and the deeper structural issues inside Canada’s tax system. From call-centre chaos to a tax code even accountants struggle to under…

1
Blueprints for a Rooted Economy: Indigenomics with Carol Anne Hilton 1:07:25

10d ago1:07:25

1:07:25

What’s the greatest comeback Canada has never seen? According to special guest Carol Ann Hilton, Founder and CEO of the Indigenomics Institute, it’s re-centering Indigenous economic power and Indigenous participation. But part of that re-centering requires acknowledging that Canada was formed through Indigenous economic and cultural exclusion and t…

1
The Rental Paradox: Why Lower Prices Aren't Enough 23:47

19d ago23:47

23:47

Rents are finally dropping in many Canadian cities, yet finding an affordable, decent apartment still feels impossible. What’s going on with the rental market? In this episode, Sabrina Maddeaux sits down with Max Steinman, CEO of RentSync and Rentals.ca, to unpack what’s driving the recent rent declines, how rent control policies backfired, and why…

1
Why is it SO HARD to Take a Train Across the Border? (w/Jon Worth) 44:43

1M ago44:43

44:43

The EU is heavily promoting rail as an alternative to flying and driving, but while the "big" high-speed train projects get a lot of attention, it's often maddeningly difficult to take a regional train across an EU border. Jon Worth has travelled on almost every single rail line in the EU and he has an incredible wealth of knowledge about how cross…

1
Nightmare on Craven Road: When Local Politics Derail Citywide Housing Goals 15:41

26d ago15:41

15:41

What happens when one city councillor gets Toronto council to vote in favour of “studying” garden suites on a single block, potentially undoing years of zoning reform? In this episode of The Missing Middle, Mike Moffatt and Meredith Martin dig into the Craven Road and Parkmount Avenue dispute to reveal how neighbourhood politics, NIMBYism, and endl…

1
The Algorithm Rules: Who Governs the New Economy? with Vass Bednar & Kaylie Tiessen 1:32:22

1M ago1:32:22

1:32:22

Does your favourite social media app or e-commerce site’s algorithm hold more power than your country’s elected government? Do regulators really have to choose between innovation and security? Can algorithms be neutral? Listen as host Marwa Abdou and guests Vass Bednar (Executive Director, Canadian Shield Institute) and Kaylie Tiessen (Chief Econom…

1
Eastbound and Outpriced: The Great GTA Family Migration 21:39

1M ago21:39

21:39

Ontario’s family housing crisis is spreading fast, and it’s not just a GTA problem anymore. In this episode of The Missing Middle podcast, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt delve into a new report that reveals how the shortage of family-friendly homes in the GTA is driving young families east and south, reshaping entire regions from Peterborough to…

1
From Kraft Dinner to Condos: The Great Shrinkage 26:23

2M ago26:23

26:23

In this episode of The Missing Middle, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux dig into the rise of shrinkflation, from grocery store products like cereal and Kraft Dinner to Canada’s shrinking condos, and reveal how companies, developers, and government policies are quietly giving Canadians less for more. From deceptive packaging and behavioral economic…

1
Ties That Bind: Canada, APEC, and the Future of Regional Resilience with Eduardo Pedrosa and Carlos Kuriyama 1:21:30

2M ago1:21:30

1:21:30

Did you know that nearly half of the world’s trade moves through the Asia-Pacific? That your blueberries in January, the anime you stream, and your kid’s hockey gear are all part of a system quietly shaped by economies as varied as Chile, Japan, Mexico, Korea and Vietnam? Listen as host Marwa Abdou peels back the layers on the forum that keeps much…

1
Ontario’s Housing Sales Collapse: It’s Not Just Toronto Condos 13:13

2M ago13:13

13:13

Ontario’s housing market is in crisis, and it’s not just condos in downtown Toronto. In this episode of The Missing Middle Podcast, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux break down a bleak new report on housing starts and sales across 34 municipalities. From plummeting pre-construction sales and stalled ground-oriented homes, to the looming loss of 21,…

1
Who Really Wins with Return-to-Office Mandates? 17:28

2M ago17:28

17:28

In this episode of The Missing Middle, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down Ontario’s new return-to-office mandate and the big banks’ similar policies, asking what they really mean for younger workers and families already facing high housing costs, long commutes, and stagnant wages. They explore the trade-offs between productivity, commutin…

1
“It’s (Still) the Economy, Stupid.” – Canadian Edition 24:34

2M ago24:34

24:34

In this special back-to-basics episode of Canada’s Economy, Explained, host Marwa Abdou cuts through the alphabet soup of GDPs, CPIs, and BoC rate cuts to tackle the real questions Canadians keep asking. Why is it easier to trade with the U.S. than across provinces? Why is climate policy so expensive? Why are interest rates cooling inflation but pu…

1
Condo Crashes, Shrinkflation, & The Death of Homeownership? 16:33

2M ago16:33

16:33

In this episode of The Missing Middle, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt dig into Canada’s condo market crash, the rise of “housing shrinkflation,” and what it all means for young Canadians chasing the dream of homeownership. They unpack why falling condo prices aren’t actually fixing the housing crisis, how developers and government policies have …

1
The Secret Life of Think Tanks: Funding, Influence & Careers 20:43

2M ago20:43

20:43

Ever wonder what people at think tanks actually do all day? In this episode of The Missing Middle, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt pull back the curtain on the mysterious world of think tanks. From how they’re structured and funded, to the challenges of staying independent, they explore what really goes on behind the scenes. You’ll also hear abou…

1
Zoned Out: How We Underbuilt an Entire Generation with Mike Moffatt 47:05

3M ago47:05

47:05

Once a pillar of middle-class security, affordable homeownership has slipped out of reach for millions of Canadians. But economist Mike Moffatt (Missing Middle Initiative, Smart Prosperity Institute, Ivey Business School at Western University) argues the housing crisis isn’t just about sky-high prices; it’s the result of a system-wide failure. In t…

1
Infill Housing Battles: What 15 Years of Data Reveal 20:07

3M ago20:07

20:07

Why do some infill housing projects spark outrage while others fly under the radar? In this episode of The Missing Middle, host Sabrina Matto sits down with former London City Councillor and researcher Jesse Helmer to unpack 15 years of planning committee decisions. They explore why certain housing proposals face fierce opposition, what factors red…

1
The High Cost of Losing Your Creative Class 17:00

3M ago17:00

17:00

Canadian cities are facing a creative crisis. Rising housing costs are driving artists, musicians, designers, and other innovators out — and it’s not just culture that’s at risk. In this episode, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down how losing the “creative class” hurts local economies, tourism, and even a city’s ability to attract tech and…

1
The Time of Your Life: On the Economics of Longevity and Mortality with Kevin Milligan 56:25

3M ago56:25

56:25

Canada’s population is retiring earlier and living longer. Even so, the age 65 retirement threshold, inherited from 19th-century Prussia, continues to anchor public policy and social expectations. In this episode, Professor Kevin Milligan (Professor of Economics, University of British Columbia) joins host Marwa Abdou to breakdown how this outdated …

1
Can Tax Reform Help Young Canadians Afford Homes? 30:55

3M ago30:55

30:55

Are young Canadians being taxed like millionaires while living like broke students? Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt dive into the jaw-dropping disconnect between salaries, taxes, and the insane cost of housing. From bold tax reform ideas to creative fixes for rent, down payments, and wealth inequality, they tackle the policies (and politics) hold…

1
MURBs & The Housing Plot Twist No One Saw Coming 15:47

3M ago15:47

15:47

What do cheesy Jean-Claude Van Damme movies and Canada’s rental housing crisis have in common? Apparently, more than you’d think! In this episode of The Missing Middle, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt hop in their imaginary time machine to explore how a long-forgotten 1970s tax trick—MURBs—might make a comeback to boost rental housing today. Will…

1
Beyond the Paycheque: Rethinking Economic Security in an Age of Transformation with Tammy Schirle & Jennifer Robson 1:18:11

4M ago1:18:11

1:18:11

Do Canada’s public policies reflect the reality of today’s workers? Many of the social programs Canadians rely on for economic security were designed in and for a very different era. Built around a mid-20th-century vision of work and family life, programs like Employment Insurance, the Canada Pension Plan, and key parts of our tax system still assu…

1
REITs, Rent & Rage: Canada’s Housing Tug-of-War 17:29

4M ago17:29

17:29

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 poli…

1
Young Workers and the Public Service Purge 22:42

4M ago22:42

22:42

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…

1
The $6.6 Billion Housing Disaster Politicians Won’t Talk About 17:45

4M ago17:45

17:45

Toronto’s housing market is in free fall — new condo sales have plunged 97% since 2021, costing governments $6.6 billion in lost tax revenue every year. In this episode, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down shocking new data on record-low home sales, how this impacts construction jobs, and why the crisis could get worse before it gets bette…

1
Broken Zoning: Why We Can’t Fix the Housing Crisis Without a Map 16:31

4M ago16:31

16:31

In this episode of The Missing Middle, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt are joined by urban planner Alex Beheshti for a deep dive into one of the most overlooked barriers to solving Canada’s housing crisis: zoning data. Alex makes the case for a Canadian Zoning Atlas—an ambitious but essential tool to bring clarity, consistency, and transparency t…

1
Why I'm Ebike-pilled (with American Fietser) 1:16:44

5M ago1:16:44

1:16:44

"If it weren't for ebikes, I'd be driving a car" says American Fietser. American Fietser: BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/americanfietser.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFietser Not Just Bikes: https://youtube.com/notjustbikes See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/…

1
How Cities Keep Screwing up Multiplex Housing 16:29

5M ago16:29

16:29

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 the…

1
Canada’s GST Rebate is Based On 1991 Home Prices-WTF!?! 18:21

5M ago18:21

18:21

In this episode, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt tackle how GST rebates are affecting new homebuyers, tracing the history of these incentives and how inflation has quietly eroded their value. With fresh rebate structures now on the table—especially for first-time buyers—they examine what’s working, what’s not, and what’s politically possible. And…

1
AI at the Margins: Power, Prediction, and Who Gets to Decide? with Avi Goldfarb 37:14

5M ago37:14

37:14

In this episode of Canada’s Economy, Explained, host Marwa Abdou sits down with Avi Goldfarb—Rotman Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare at the University of Toronto, and co-author of Prediction Machines and Power and Prediction. Goldfarb is one of the world’s leading economists on the business implications of AI. Together, they examine …

1
Politicians vs. Millennials: The Battle for Housing Affordability 31:33

5M ago31:33

31:33

In this episode of the Missing Middle podcast Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt discuss the lack of clear housing goals from political parties, including the Liberals' national housing strategy's focus on low-income earners and the NDP's ineffective communication with younger voters. The conversation highlights the struggle of middle-class individu…

1
From 40 to 100 million: How will immigration impact Canadian wages? 19:42

5M ago19:42

19:42

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 resi…

1
The Digital Balance: How Canada Can Develop a Sustainable Digital Future with Capgemini 28:47

5M ago28:47

28:47

In this episode of Canada’s Economy, Explained, host Marwa Abdou explores Canada’s pivotal role as G7 and B7 president in 2025 and the country’s opportunity to lead on AI adoption and sustainability. Joining her are Tom Mosseau and Franco Amalfi from Capgemini Canada—a global consulting and technology firm—who break down the challenges and possibil…

1
Why I Quit YouTube (with RMTransit) 1:18:50

6M ago1:18:50

1:18:50

RMTransit has been making YouTube videos about cities and public transit for over 5 years. Now with over 750 videos on his YouTube channel, it's time to call it quits. Reece's Mastodon: https://masto.canadiancivil.com/@reece Reece's Transit Blog: https://reecemartin.ca/author/reecemartintransit/ Cinq Personnes: https://cinqpersonnes.substack.com/ N…

1
Ron Butler: Condo Crash Meets Housing Crisis 31:23

5M ago31:23

31:23

In this episode of the Missing Middle podcast, mortgage broker Ron Butler sits down with conservative pundit Sabrina Maddeaux and economist Mike Moffatt to discuss the current crisis in the Toronto condo market. Ron outlines the vast scope of the problem stemming from pre-construction purchases made during a speculative boom. He explains how invest…

1
The Case for Canada: A Matter of Trust? 35:38

6M ago35:38

35:38

In this episode of Canada’s Economy, Explained, host Marwa Abdou brings us insights from the inaugural Business Data Lab conference, The Case for Canada. Trust—once the invisible foundation of commerce and governance—is now fractured, with only 62% of Canadians expressing moderate or high trust in institutions, according to Edelman’s Trust Baromete…

1
Can Factory-Built Homes Solve the Housing Crisis? 25:02

6M ago25:02

25:02

In this episode, conservative pundit Sabrina Maddeaux and economist Mike Moffatt discuss the potential of factory built homes as a solution to the housing crisis. They explore the promises made by politicians regarding prefabricated housing, the spectrum of factory built homes, and the claims of reduced construction times, costs, and emissions. The…

1
The Housing Trilemma: Why You Can't Afford a Home 20:32

6M ago20:32

20:32

In this episode of The Missing Middle podcast, hosts Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt discuss the impossible trinity that broke Canadian housing. They explore the implications of stagnant neighborhoods, population growth, and government policies that hinder housing affordability. The conversation delves into the complexities of urban planning, the…

1
Where DID All the Jobs Go? The Mystery of Rising Unemployment. 24:52

6M ago24:52

24:52

Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:13 Job market statistics 02:10 Why the job market is so bad right now 04:27 Different ways to measure the job market 07:02 Things are particularly bad in Ontario 09:02 High unemployment fractures the social fabric 11:25 The impact of a slow job market on lifetime earning 13:32 How youth unemployment shapes political p…

1
The Scale of Canada's Deficit and What it Means: Lessons on Fiscal Policy with Trevor Tombe 39:13

6M ago39:13

39:13

In this episode of Canada’s Economy, Explained, host Marwa Abdou sits down with Dr. Trevor Tombe, Professor of Economics at the University of Calgary and Director at the School of Public Policy. Tombe discusses the widening fiscal divide between Canada and the United States and what it means for Canada's economy, trade, and future stability. While …

1
The Humble Genius of Uytae Lee: The Creator of About Here 30:09

6M ago30:09

30:09

He's got 215,000 YouTube subscribers and millions of views. The urban planner and YouTube creator Uytae Lee sits down with Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt to have a fun and wide-ranging conversation about housing and the systemic hurdles to building more of it. Uytae shares insights on creating engaging content about housing, urban planning, desi…

1
Baby Bust: Where Have All the 3-Bedroom Homes Gone? 24:28

7M ago24:28

24:28

In this episode, conservative pundit Sabrina Maddeaux and economist Mike Moffatt discuss the significant decline in the construction of three-bedroom homes in Ontario, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). They explore the implications of the 'baby bust' phenomenon, where fewer families are able to afford suitable housing, leading to a de…

1
Can Any Party Actually Fix Housing? - Election 2025 29:09

7M ago29:09

29:09

In this episode of The Missing Middle, hosts Sabrina Maddeaux and Michael Moffatt discuss the housing platforms of Canada's major federal parties as they approach the April 28 election. They analyze the promises made by the Liberals, Conservatives, and NDP regarding housing starts, affordability, and the implications of these policies on young Cana…

1
Ed Elson: Is Gen Z Doomed? 49:12

7M ago49:12

49:12

In this conversation, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt are joined by co-host of the Prof G Markets podcast with Scott Galloway, and host the First Time Founders podcast Ed Elson to discuss the economic challenges faced by Gen Z, including their financial struggles, housing affordability, and the rising costs of education. Ed highlights the generat…

1
Calm Before the Storm: Canada’s Economic Outlook & Recession Risk with Dawn Desjardins 26:05

7M ago26:05

26:05

In this episode, host Marwa Abdou speaks with Dawn Desjardins, Chief Economist at Deloitte Canada, about the country's fragile economic outlook for 2025. Desjardins shares insights from Deloitte’s Calm Before the Storm report, which highlights falling interest rates, stable inflation, and household savings as economic supports — while new U.S. tari…

1
David Coletto: Gas Prices, Trump and Angry Young Men - Inside Canada’s Wild 2025 Election 26:36

7M ago26:36

26:36

In this episode, conservative pundit Sabrina and economist Mike Moffatt speak with David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, to explore the evolving landscape of Canadian election polling. They discuss the impact of recent policy changes, particularly the carbon tax, on voter sentiment and the shifting dynamics of affordability issues. The conversation de…

1
The Incoherent Case of Tariffs: Trade Talk with Chad Bown 29:05

7M ago29:05

29:05

In this episode of Canada’s Economy, Explained, host Marwa Abdou sits down with Dr. Chad P. Bown, Reginald Jones Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and former Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of State, to examine how new U.S. tariffs could impact Canada’s economy. Bown explains how Canada’s deep ties to U.S. s…

1
Let's Send our Pickup Trucks to Ukraine (with Build the Lanes) 38:15

7M ago38:15

38:15

Pickup trucks don't belong in European cities, so let's send them to help out in Ukraine! Stef from Build the Lanes tells us about why he's driving pickup trucks from the EU to Ukraine. Berr Battalion - https://www.help99.co/patches/nafo-berr-battalion Berr Battalion Announcement Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7tZdrGU_2c Help99 - https://…