What generation you're born in dictates so much of what kind of life you'll have in Canada. That's the argument @mikepmoffatt.bsky.social makes on the first episode of Demografix, a Missing Middle podcast.

Happy to have contributed the cat carrier to this very well-done video on high speed rail. (Blink and you’ll miss it.)

Embedded YouTube link for Bluesky users ⤵️ "Canadians are closer than ever to having high-speed rail, but questions remain: Will it be accessible like Spain’s network, or will the cost of private financing price it out of reach for many?" #alto #hsr

If you saw the new high-speed rail announcement today and want to know if we're on track for a successful project, Paige Saunders has got the perfect video on it, featuring @rmtransit.bsky.social (and a cameo from his baby!). We're aiming high. But is it too high? youtu.be/eOcxuGvf1uY?...

Sometimes cities put in policies like inclusionary zoning that end up increasing the cost of market-rate homes. Why do they keep implementing policies that don't work? @mikepmoffatt.bsky.social grades every province on its housing policies in a new report by the Missing Middle Initiative.

I'm back! After spending 10 months ranting to my infant about home prices and getting as much interest as politicians did when I first covered it, it's nice to talk to someone with a bit more knowledge and interest again. Today on the Missing Middle!

Lots of people claim Canada's housing crisis is really a global issue. But turns out: It is, in fact, made in Canada. Today on the Missing Middle podcast, we compare Canada’s record to other OECD countries (spoiler: it’s not flattering).

Toronto's garden suite reforms have only produced 143 units since 2022. It's mind-blowing, considering the city's housing crisis, and it's time to fight back. @meredithmartin.bsky.social would like to see some housing advocates attend the council meeting on Oct. 22 to fight for progress.

Today's Missing Middle: @carastern and I talk to @VassB and @denisehearn_ about corporate consolidation, the kayfabe nature of grocery store product competition and their new book 'The Big Fix'. Episode is free, as always, on YouTube: youtu.be/Uz5DkpZPH2k

The New Year's Mail Bag episode is up! Tune in to hear @MikePMoffatt, @carastern & I answer viewer questions that were collected throughout the year. Thank you to our *amazing* audience, you sent us some really thoughtful ones, it's been so much fun going through them all! youtu.be/8GcwswauU3Q

On today's episode of the Missing Middle @carastern & I got to ask a question that's been bugging us for a long time: Are @MikePMoffatt & @andrew_leech friends? It then turned into a discussion about who is meaner, economists or journalists ;)

Today is the Missing Middle's first-ever AMA! Join @MikePMoffatt, @carastern, and me as we answer smart and interesting questions from our amazing audience. Happy Holidays! #CDNpoli youtu.be/8JoLbEDTpzE...#CDNpoli

With holiday dinners coming up, you know there's a good chance you're gonna be arguing politics with someone, and probably about the economy. Sabrina Maddeaux and I've got facts to get you ready, and we go up against this bizarro version of @mikepmoffatt.bsky.social youtu.be/HAbc1I7OIkk

I'm thrilled to announce that the incredible Sabrina Maddeaux is going to fill in for me on the Missing Middle podcast while I'm on mat leave. She hosts today's episode about millennials as the jackpot generation. She'll take over fully in the new year. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmfD...

Grateful to Not Just Bikes for making what is essentially a mini doc about how Doug Ford is trying to distract from his incompetence on transit, among many other of his provincial responsibilities. That's what the bike lane distraction is really about. Worth the watch. youtu.be/KgFCQ7jEZxI?...

The people yearn for pedestrian streets

This is a really great pick. He did impressive work in his previous role in Hamilton, and I'm so excited to see what he'll be able to accomplish in Toronto! Congrats @jasonthorne.bsky.social!

I've been finding the narrative around the GST holiday fixing a "vibecession" incredibly offensive. It feels like our governments, economists and academics are gaslighting us when they say it's just perception. We need to rethink how we talk about and measure the economy.

In this episode of the Missing Middle Podcast, @carastern.bsky.social and @mikepmoffatt.bsky.social discuss the economic absurdity of the election bribe schemes from the Ford and Trudeau governments and the unequal impacts of inflation in affecting Canadians' life affordability. t.co/1hBBwZMHK9

I don’t want a $250 cheque I just want to afford a 500 sqft one bedroom

I guess a vibecession is where young ppl are struggling to live but seniors are still thriving

Completely agree with Cara’s frustration in this episode. When I graduated undergrad in 2023 the job market was bad and now I’m graduating with my masters and the job market has just gotten worse. All I want as a young person is to get a job where I can afford the COL

Check out the full episode of today's Missing Middle podcast where @mikepmoffatt.bsky.social & @carastern.bsky.social ern.bsky.social discuss the so-called Vibecession, gov rebate cheques, GST holiday & how it's an intergenerational wealth transfer from the young to the old youtu.be/ZdK7y-0ledE?...

I'm genuinely trying to understand why he's on pace for another majority. If you care about respect for taxpayers, this party ain't it. Life has become so much less affordable under this govt, and services are much worse. I'd truly like to know: What's the draw for so many?

This is why it's so disappointing that Doug Ford is abdicating responsibility on the housing file. There's no "local context" that should justify low density near subway stations. If environmental concerns, we can work around them, but right now it sounds like code for "rich people don't want it".

And remember, these numbers are for commutes for all of Toronto (so not including non-commute travel), including places that have zero safe bike lanes. If we narrow in proximity to bike lanes, it goes way up.

Ontario sucks at building homes. Quebec and B.C. are much better at it. @mikepmoffatt.bsky.social & @carastern.bsky.social discuss why on today's episode of Missing Middle

There are lots of provinces in Canada that aren't great at getting homes built, but Ontario is uniquely terrible at it. We talk about what makes Ontario so bad at it. And yes, it's a lot of policy choices. It doesn't have to be this way! youtu.be/yP5R0gTRlnQ

How will the removal of protected bicycle lanes affect you? Here is an account by a #Toronto parent of a child with special needs. (I got a personal permission to share this, she asked for me to remove her name just in case.) #BikeTO

"It’s time to call out these policies for what they are: distractions that undermine our future. Canadians deserve better." @ericlombardi.bsky.social nails it in this article. These populist bribes are horrible for our economy. thehub.ca/2024/11/26/e...

Ah yes, "cyclists should just take the roads that run parallel to the main arteries"

Whatever you think re: the necessity of Canada Post, this kind of fight is what's needed to stop what is basically the enshittification of work. Standing up for future generations, despite paying for it now, is huge and something that a lot of people wouldn't do. Love to see it.

City of Toronto single-detached DCs. 2004: $4,370 2014: $27,774 2024: $137,864 Gord Perks to CBC: "Over a decade or two, our DCs are rising at not much more than the rate of inflation" Our politicians lie to us, and our media amplifies those lies. www.youtube.com/watc...

I don't care which party is doing it. Bribe cheques before an election are a waste a money and they all need to stop this crap. We have huge deficits, and universal social programs that are falling apart. This is not a prudent use of our tax dollars.

Today on the Missing Middle, we go over the four pathways to fixing the housing crisis that @MikePMoffatt unveiled in his latest research report. These are actions that politicians could take right now if they want to fix cost of homes. youtu.be/1m0XukGXPrQ...

Wait, does this mean the Ford government is deliberately misleading the public about bike lane usage? Intentionally using data that is old enough that if it were a person, it would be in high school, even though it has access to recent data? Shocking.

Weird, I thought Holyday wasn't a fan of high taxes. Interesting fiscal conservatism here, voting that Toronto taxes should cover the province's decisions.

We were going to bookmark this for future zoning reform debates but it turns out that we only needed to wait a few hours.

In summary, Ford's bike lane removals will, according to a new City Hall report: - Cost $75 million in direct costs and sunk costs. - Make traffic much, much worse for at least nine months during construction to remove lanes - Have minimal long-term impact on car travel times.

Report says removing bike lanes on Bloor would mean 4 months with only one open vehicle lane in each direction, 4 months with only one vehicle lane in one direction, and a month-long intersection closure at St. George. Southbound University Ave would be one lane for 9 months.

The report also says travel times would get WORSE for drivers during the construction work necessary to remove the bike lanes. Long-term, staff project "likely minimal improvements in travel time" for drivers once lanes are removed.

The way we see it, any innovation that can get housing built faster is a win. Today on the Missing Middle, we spoke to Nicholas Renzetti here at the Smart Prosperity Institute about the opportunities that mass timber provides for homebuilding and jobs. youtu.be/PN1MJhKJr9I

And we’re constantly told that we can’t have bike infrastructure because of cyclists who run stop signs.

Some are calling it "The Eras Tour of Housing Policy." I mean, just me right now, but surely it'll catch on.

Didn't get tickets to Taylor Swift, but still want something fun to do that first night downtown? We've got you! Nov. 14, I'll be moderating a panel at the Empire Club of Canada on  Innovations in Building, Policy and Planning. Hope to see you there! empireclubofcanada.c...

The housing crisis in many American cities helped Trump get elected. It doesn't matter how well GDP or the stock market is doing. If people can't afford sufficient shelter, they're not going to believe you. We talk about it on the Missing Middle today. www.youtube.com/watc...

4/ One piece is definitely Colletto's fault, because "acceptable" is not a middle ground between good (1-2) and bad (4-5). This is malpractice in the use of likert scales. But I guess if it drums up business...

3/ This is pretty balanced. 25% pro, 28% against, 30% kind of in the middle. But in the hands of Benzie/Colletto (not sure which), the "3" in the likert scale becomes "pro-torching the bike lanes". Hence - 55% are pro. THIS IS NOT THE WAY LIKERT WORKS.

2/ Normally on a 5-point likert, 1-2 are one side of an issue, 4-5 is the opposite side and 3 is "neither one nor the other". In this case, for getting rid of bike lines: 1 = v good idea (10%) 2 = good idea (15%) 3 = acceptable idea (30%) 4= bad idea (16%) 5 = v bad idea (12%)

1/ This might be the most dishonest use of a 5-point likert scale I have ever seen. Holy shit this is bad. Don't know if it is Benzie's interpretation or Coletto 's but it should be punishable by incarceration. www.thestar.com/politics/pro...