Dr. Mike P. Moffatt
@mikepmoffatt.bsky.social
Co-Host, "Missing Middle". Husband. Father. Brother. Son. Economist. Housing guy. I used to do other stuff.
Today on MMI, we look at the federal government's $55 billion Apartment Construction Loan Program, which might actually be making the government money. Unfortunately, the new federal accounting framework can't provide that answer.
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
November 25, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Today on MMI, we look at the federal government's $55 billion Apartment Construction Loan Program, which might actually be making the government money. Unfortunately, the new federal accounting framework can't provide that answer.
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
Yahoo Finance Canada on last weekend's Build Canada Homes release.
Details on Canada's new housing agency add clarity, expose 'troubling limitations': Expert
Ottawa's Build Canada Homes has rolled out its investment framework — and a leading housing policy expert says the plan leaves key gaps.
ca.finance.yahoo.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Yahoo Finance Canada on last weekend's Build Canada Homes release.
Over the weekend, the federal government quietly released additional details about Build Canada Homes. The increased transparency reveals a program that prioritizes 1- and 2-bedroom low-rise homes and lacks genuine support for innovation.
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
November 24, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Over the weekend, the federal government quietly released additional details about Build Canada Homes. The increased transparency reveals a program that prioritizes 1- and 2-bedroom low-rise homes and lacks genuine support for innovation.
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
New piece coming out tomorrow at 7:45am - look for it in your inbox!
November 23, 2025 at 11:41 PM
New piece coming out tomorrow at 7:45am - look for it in your inbox!
We're quoted in this piece over at The Hub - Housing starts set to hit 30-year low for Canadian homeowners as rentals hit record high in 2025: CMHC
Read here:
Read here:
Housing starts set to hit 30-year low for Canadian homeowners as rentals hit record high in 2025: CMHC
New rental units are more than doubling new houses being built in Canada
thehub.ca
November 21, 2025 at 5:36 PM
We're quoted in this piece over at The Hub - Housing starts set to hit 30-year low for Canadian homeowners as rentals hit record high in 2025: CMHC
Read here:
Read here:
Doing some background research for a 20-year lookback on the Greenbelt and the 2006 Growth Plan. The discussions at the time were quite interesting.
November 21, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Doing some background research for a 20-year lookback on the Greenbelt and the 2006 Growth Plan. The discussions at the time were quite interesting.
New episode!
Yesterday, the feds released the Budget implementation bill with a new "Stablecoin Act", allowing for made-in-Canada stablecoins to be issued.
Sabrina and I talk about why this matters, and how it could help the middle-class.
Watch here: www.youtube.com/watc...
Yesterday, the feds released the Budget implementation bill with a new "Stablecoin Act", allowing for made-in-Canada stablecoins to be issued.
Sabrina and I talk about why this matters, and how it could help the middle-class.
Watch here: www.youtube.com/watc...
November 19, 2025 at 3:17 PM
New episode!
Yesterday, the feds released the Budget implementation bill with a new "Stablecoin Act", allowing for made-in-Canada stablecoins to be issued.
Sabrina and I talk about why this matters, and how it could help the middle-class.
Watch here: www.youtube.com/watc...
Yesterday, the feds released the Budget implementation bill with a new "Stablecoin Act", allowing for made-in-Canada stablecoins to be issued.
Sabrina and I talk about why this matters, and how it could help the middle-class.
Watch here: www.youtube.com/watc...
I'm quoted in today's Toronto Star, on the merits of a full HST rebate on newly constructed homes.
Read here:
Read here:
Ford says HST break should apply to ‘anyone who buys a new home’
Proponents say expanding the HST exemption, currently limited to first-time homebuyers on new home up to $1 million, could help the struggling industry.
www.thestar.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:11 AM
I'm quoted in today's Toronto Star, on the merits of a full HST rebate on newly constructed homes.
Read here:
Read here:
The federal government has introduced their new stablecoin rules in the budget implementation bill. Looks pretty aligned with the EU implementation, including the ban on paying interest/incentives.
Canada has a new plan for governing stablecoins and open banking - The Logic
The new law “expands the system tremendously,” says Canada’s former open banking czar
thelogic.co
November 18, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The federal government has introduced their new stablecoin rules in the budget implementation bill. Looks pretty aligned with the EU implementation, including the ban on paying interest/incentives.
Reposted by Dr. Mike P. Moffatt
New column from me at Loonie Politics: Why is Mark Carney taking a page from Nigel Farage? #cdnpoli
(Big h/t to @mikepmoffatt.bsky.social)
(Big h/t to @mikepmoffatt.bsky.social)
Why is Mark Carney taking a page from Nigel Farage? - Loonie Politics
The most important warning sign of all is the fact that this is ceding the rhetorical ground to the fascists and the far-right.
looniepolitics.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:10 PM
New column from me at Loonie Politics: Why is Mark Carney taking a page from Nigel Farage? #cdnpoli
(Big h/t to @mikepmoffatt.bsky.social)
(Big h/t to @mikepmoffatt.bsky.social)
Now back online after the Cloudflare outage!
Why an HST Cut Pushes Home Prices Down and Helps Build More Homes
An explainer on a policy that would actually lower home prices, an outcome some governments desperately hope to avoid.
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
Why an HST Cut Pushes Home Prices Down and Helps Build More Homes
An explainer on a policy that would actually lower home prices, an outcome some governments desperately hope to avoid.
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
November 18, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Now back online after the Cloudflare outage!
Why an HST Cut Pushes Home Prices Down and Helps Build More Homes
An explainer on a policy that would actually lower home prices, an outcome some governments desperately hope to avoid.
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
Why an HST Cut Pushes Home Prices Down and Helps Build More Homes
An explainer on a policy that would actually lower home prices, an outcome some governments desperately hope to avoid.
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
Spoiler for an upcoming piece. On average, the income of men aged 65+ in Canada is higher than that of their 25-34-year-old counterparts.
November 18, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Spoiler for an upcoming piece. On average, the income of men aged 65+ in Canada is higher than that of their 25-34-year-old counterparts.
My response to a recent episode of @TheHerleBurly.
Why an HST Cut Pushes Home Prices Down and Helps Build More Homes
An explainer on a policy that would actually lower home prices, an outcome some governments desperately hope to avoid.
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
Why an HST Cut Pushes Home Prices Down and Helps Build More Homes
An explainer on a policy that would actually lower home prices, an outcome some governments desperately hope to avoid.
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
November 18, 2025 at 11:59 AM
My response to a recent episode of @TheHerleBurly.
Why an HST Cut Pushes Home Prices Down and Helps Build More Homes
An explainer on a policy that would actually lower home prices, an outcome some governments desperately hope to avoid.
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
Why an HST Cut Pushes Home Prices Down and Helps Build More Homes
An explainer on a policy that would actually lower home prices, an outcome some governments desperately hope to avoid.
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
Today, Premier Ford suggested expanding the First-Time Homebuyers GST credit to all: "Why don’t we give it to everyone, not just first-time homebuyers, anyone who buys a new home”
I'm surprised the feds & province haven't done this already.
I'm surprised the feds & province haven't done this already.
Ontario premier, finance minister disagree on 1st-time homebuyers tax discount | Globalnews.ca
As Ford spoke about affordability measures on Monday, he gently chided the finance minister's policy, suggesting it was too narrow.
globalnews.ca
November 17, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Today, Premier Ford suggested expanding the First-Time Homebuyers GST credit to all: "Why don’t we give it to everyone, not just first-time homebuyers, anyone who buys a new home”
I'm surprised the feds & province haven't done this already.
I'm surprised the feds & province haven't done this already.
I find it rather remarkable that anything I post on housing tends to be met on Bluesky with pushback that my ideas are insufficiently progressive.
Yet I point out my concerns that Canada's government is adopting language similar to Nigel Farage's when discussing immigration, and people shrug.
Yet I point out my concerns that Canada's government is adopting language similar to Nigel Farage's when discussing immigration, and people shrug.
November 16, 2025 at 5:03 PM
I find it rather remarkable that anything I post on housing tends to be met on Bluesky with pushback that my ideas are insufficiently progressive.
Yet I point out my concerns that Canada's government is adopting language similar to Nigel Farage's when discussing immigration, and people shrug.
Yet I point out my concerns that Canada's government is adopting language similar to Nigel Farage's when discussing immigration, and people shrug.
Reposted by Dr. Mike P. Moffatt
It is very concerning that, as pointed out by @mikepmoffatt.bsky.social, the federal budget adopts the same language around immigration as has been regularized in the UK
November 16, 2025 at 4:54 PM
It is very concerning that, as pointed out by @mikepmoffatt.bsky.social, the federal budget adopts the same language around immigration as has been regularized in the UK
Listening to City of Toronto councillors endlessly debate the issue of corner stores makes it clear why there's a housing shortage across the GTA, and why there is a continued outmigration of families to other parts of Ontario.
November 13, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Listening to City of Toronto councillors endlessly debate the issue of corner stores makes it clear why there's a housing shortage across the GTA, and why there is a continued outmigration of families to other parts of Ontario.
I've been taking a bit of heat lately for only discussing jobs in new housing construction, and for being all about tearing everything down and building new.
So to those critics, I say, "You're right, renovations matter too!"
Here's why:
So to those critics, I say, "You're right, renovations matter too!"
Here's why:
From Aging in Place to Energy Efficiency: The Economic and Social Power of Home Renovations
Renovations sustain 170,000 jobs in Ontario and generate $21 billion in GDP, yet are often overlooked.
www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca
November 13, 2025 at 4:56 PM
I've been taking a bit of heat lately for only discussing jobs in new housing construction, and for being all about tearing everything down and building new.
So to those critics, I say, "You're right, renovations matter too!"
Here's why:
So to those critics, I say, "You're right, renovations matter too!"
Here's why:
BY GAWD, THAT'S JUSTIN TRUDEAU'S MUSIC... WHAT ON EARTH IS HE DOING HERE?!?
Just throwing something out there:
The last time a member of the Trudeau family resigned as prime minister and the subsequent government lost a budget vote, the result was that member of the Trudeau family returning and winning a majority.
The last time a member of the Trudeau family resigned as prime minister and the subsequent government lost a budget vote, the result was that member of the Trudeau family returning and winning a majority.
November 12, 2025 at 5:20 PM
BY GAWD, THAT'S JUSTIN TRUDEAU'S MUSIC... WHAT ON EARTH IS HE DOING HERE?!?
Reposted by Dr. Mike P. Moffatt
This has been my gripe for a long time now. If you took the words seriously, rigorously, if we established a clear right to housing in the Charter, then you'd basically nuke municipal zoning nearly in its entirety — certainly as it's practiced in Ontario.
November 12, 2025 at 4:21 PM
This has been my gripe for a long time now. If you took the words seriously, rigorously, if we established a clear right to housing in the Charter, then you'd basically nuke municipal zoning nearly in its entirety — certainly as it's practiced in Ontario.
Reposted by Dr. Mike P. Moffatt
Mike here committing the unpardonable sin of taking the words "housing is a human right" seriously when the people who use those words don't actually mean it to be taken seriously.
New MMI piece: We look at the 3.5 million people in Canada who live in a home that is too small to meet their needs, and how a mismanaged push by governments and urban planners towards densification is at odds with the human right to housing.
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
November 12, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Mike here committing the unpardonable sin of taking the words "housing is a human right" seriously when the people who use those words don't actually mean it to be taken seriously.
There have been a number of people on here who have been interested in Canada's implementation of housing as a human right, and the standard that determines whether or not that right has been met.
Here is a primer: www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/p/housing-as...
Here is a primer: www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/p/housing-as...
Housing as a Human Right Requires 3+ Bedroom Homes in Every Community
Housing through a human rights lens
www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca
November 12, 2025 at 2:50 PM
There have been a number of people on here who have been interested in Canada's implementation of housing as a human right, and the standard that determines whether or not that right has been met.
Here is a primer: www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/p/housing-as...
Here is a primer: www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/p/housing-as...
Big news! Cara makes her triumphant post-parental leave return to the pod. Today, we discuss Zohran's proposal to freeze rents, the current system's impact on mobility, and the need for higher vacancy rates.
Watch here: www.youtube.com/watc...
Watch here: www.youtube.com/watc...
November 12, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Big news! Cara makes her triumphant post-parental leave return to the pod. Today, we discuss Zohran's proposal to freeze rents, the current system's impact on mobility, and the need for higher vacancy rates.
Watch here: www.youtube.com/watc...
Watch here: www.youtube.com/watc...
It's set in both international and national law.
If Canada's sufficiency standard is inappropriate, then change the standard. Don't just ignore human rights law because it's mildly inconvenient.
If Canada's sufficiency standard is inappropriate, then change the standard. Don't just ignore human rights law because it's mildly inconvenient.
What defines sufficient space? Look back at previous societies and generations.
November 12, 2025 at 1:23 PM
It's set in both international and national law.
If Canada's sufficiency standard is inappropriate, then change the standard. Don't just ignore human rights law because it's mildly inconvenient.
If Canada's sufficiency standard is inappropriate, then change the standard. Don't just ignore human rights law because it's mildly inconvenient.
This is simple.
Canada has obligations under international law to treat housing as a human right.
That right includes the right to not live in cramped homes that lack sufficient space.
3.5 million people, as of, Canada currently live in an insufficiently small home.
Canada has obligations under international law to treat housing as a human right.
That right includes the right to not live in cramped homes that lack sufficient space.
3.5 million people, as of, Canada currently live in an insufficiently small home.
I’m not smart enough to understand all the statistics in this article but from a story telling perspective the framing of this is… a confusing choice.
Is this merely about definitions of densification? That it’s an abuse of human rights to not let everyone live in 3,500 sq ft homes?
Is this merely about definitions of densification? That it’s an abuse of human rights to not let everyone live in 3,500 sq ft homes?
New MMI piece: We look at the 3.5 million people in Canada who live in a home that is too small to meet their needs, and how a mismanaged push by governments and urban planners towards densification is at odds with the human right to housing.
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
November 12, 2025 at 1:13 PM
This is simple.
Canada has obligations under international law to treat housing as a human right.
That right includes the right to not live in cramped homes that lack sufficient space.
3.5 million people, as of, Canada currently live in an insufficiently small home.
Canada has obligations under international law to treat housing as a human right.
That right includes the right to not live in cramped homes that lack sufficient space.
3.5 million people, as of, Canada currently live in an insufficiently small home.