Has having three kids become a status symbol in Canada?

In this episode of DemograFix, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt explore why having three children has become a luxury for many middle-class Canadian families. From the cost of family-sized housing to childcare, career sacrifices, transportation, and the changing expectations placed on parents, they break down why so many families stop at two, even when they wanted more.

The conversation also looks at Canadian and international research on fertility, Quebec's childcare experiment, why family-sized homes have almost disappeared from our cities, and what governments would actually need to change if they want Canadians to have the families they hope for.

If you've ever wondered why three kids now feels like a status symbol, this episode explains the economics behind it.

Topics covered:

• Why Canada's fertility rate has reached record lows
• Is a third child becoming a luxury good?
• How housing shortages shape family size
• Why family-sized homes are disappearing
• The hidden career costs of having children
• Does affordable childcare actually increase birth rates?
• Why cities are losing young families
• What policies could make raising larger families affordable again

Chapters:

00:00 Why 3 Kids Are Becoming a Rich Person's Luxury

00:58 When Families Become Status Symbols

03:03 The Housing Crisis is Eliminating the Third Child

05:09 Canada Stopped Building Family Homes

06:28 The Big Childcare Problem

07:55 Does Cheap Childcare Actually Boost Birth Rates?

12:15 The Real Cost of a Third Baby

15:07 Families Are Being Forced Out of Cities

17:20 How Canada Could Make Three Kids Affordable Again

Research/links:

More Crowding, Fewer Babies: The Effects of Housing Density on Fertility | Institute for Family Studies

https://ifstudies.org/blog/more-crowding-fewer-babies-the-effects-of-housing-density-on-fertility

The ultimate status symbol? A big family

https://www.ft.com/content/a4025e93-7552-4f8f-8ce2-e785a7d950a4?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Opinion | Three Kids? You Showoffs. - The Washington Post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/2008/04/06/three-kids-you-showoffs/6b7952ed-4547-4f9b-ae9b-cd9d2f1d8aa0/

Why are some families with children leaving the inner city and other staying?

https://www.scup.com/doi/10.18261/njus.2.1.2

Home Alone | Cardus

https://www.cardus.ca/research/family/reports/home-alone/

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

Is 500,000 new homes a year really what Canada needs to solve the housing crisis?

In this episode of the Missing Middle’s Classonomics Podcast, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux examine whether Canada's headline housing targets still make sense now that immigration has slowed and population growth has changed. They discuss why housing starts can be a misleading metric, why the type of housing being built matters just as much as the number of homes, and what governments should actually measure if the goal is restoring affordability.

Topics covered:

• Why the 500,000-home target may no longer be necessary
• How immigration affects housing demand
• Why housing starts don't tell the full story
• The shortage of family-sized homes
• High-rise condos vs. townhomes and detached homes
• The hidden costs preventing more housing from being built
• What metrics governments should focus on instead of housing starts
• Can Canada restore middle-class housing affordability within a decade?

Subscribe for more conversations on housing, affordability, economics, and public policy.

Chapters:

00:00 - Does Canada Really Need 500,000 Homes a Year?
01:40 - Where Did the 500k Housing Starts Target Come From?
02:47 - The Metrics Governments Should Focus On Instead
04:11 - Balancing Housing Supply with Immigration Demand
05:21 - The Population Math: Why 500k is Overkill
06:40 - How Developers Bet on Future Immigration Policy
08:39 - Why the Type of Housing Matters (High-Rises vs. Townhomes)
10:12 - How Many Homes We Actually Need to Build
11:08 - Solving the Crisis by Lowering Construction Costs
13:04 - Will Baby Boomers Free Up Suburban Housing?

Research/links

The Impossible Trinity that Broke Canadian Housing

https://open.substack.com/pub/missingmiddleinitiative/p/the-impossible-trinity-that-broke?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

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

https://www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/p/the-housing-trilemma-why-you-cant

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

Why are so many young Canadian families leaving Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal? Even after return-to-office mandates, the exodus from Canada's largest cities continues.

In this episode of Classonomics, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux explore the data behind Canada's urban migration trends and debate why affordability isn't the only factor driving people away. They discuss housing costs, crime and public safety, mental health, community, urban planning, and whether government policies are making sprawl even worse.

Topics covered:

• Why Canadians are leaving the GTA, Metro Vancouver, and Montreal
• Why return-to-office hasn't reversed the trend
• Housing affordability and the shortage of family-sized homes
• Crime, public safety, and quality of life in big cities
• Mental health, community, and life satisfaction
• Urban growth boundaries, the Greenbelt, and sprawl
• Why smaller cities are attracting young families
• What policymakers are getting wrong about housing and urban planning

Subscribe for more conversations on housing, economics, public policy, and the future of Canada.

Chapters:

00:00 The Great Canadian Family Exodus
01:05 Mike's Biggest Prediction Miss
03:05 Why Millennials Are Leaving Cities
04:17 Is Toronto Becoming Too Chaotic?
06:22 Does Crime Make Families Move?
09:44 Are Small Towns Better for Mental Health?
11:57 Why Community Matters More Than Ever
14:32 It All Comes Back to Housing
15:35 The Greenbelt's Unintended Consequences
17:29 When Good Environmental Policy Goes Wrong
18:40 The Case for Evidence-Based Policy

Research/links:

Housing is a large part of the story. The OECD has examined this:

https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2025/05/oecd-economic-surveys-canada-2025_ee18a269/full-report/improving-housing-affordability_3d430d2e.html

As has Statistics Canada: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/241119/dq241119b-eng.htm

Remote Work and Employment Dynamics under COVID-19: Evidence from Canada

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7971424/

Upjohn Institute: https://www.upjohn.org/remote-works-quiet-impact-rural-communities

C.D. Howe: https://cdhowe.org/publication/settling-new-normal-working-home-across-canada/

Social ties and quality of life, including lower rates of depression: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2025002/article/00003-eng.htm

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20376426/

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/home-and-design/article-why-some-people-are-choosing-country-life-over-the-city/

Though evidence is nuanced: https://www.cmaj.ca/content/184/17/E889

Crime and disorder:

https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/urban-violent-crime-report-comparing-crime-across-canadian-cities-volume-2/

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2025001/article/00005-eng.htm

McDonald-Laurier Report: https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Urban-Violent-Crime-Report_Final.pdf

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

Thinking about taking parental leave in Canada?

In this episode of DemograFix Cara Stern talks with Jasmine Steffler (from Walkable Parenthood and Oh The Urbanity!) about her experience navigating parental leave. From understanding benefits and income replacement to finding childcare, building community, and adjusting to life with a new baby, Cara and Jasmine know what it takes to grow a family in Canada.

If you're expecting a child or planning a family, this conversation covers many of the practical questions parents have before taking leave:

✅ How parental leave and EI benefits work in Canada

✅ The difference between 12- and 18-month leave options

✅ Why Quebec's parental leave system is different

✅ How much income you can expect while on leave

✅ Finding daycare and understanding childcare costs

✅ Building community and avoiding isolation during leave

✅ Life with a baby in a walkable city without owning a car

✅ What we wish we knew before taking leave

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Canadian Parental Leave

00:48 Understanding Parental Leave Policies

02:29 Choosing the Length of Leave

02:51 The Quebec Parental Insurance Plan vs. Other Provinces

05:08 Navigating the Childcare System

06:15 Financial Challenges and Income Replacement

07:50 Walking and Cycling Without a Car

10:19 Finding Community During Parental Leave

12:50 Lessons Learned and Future Considerations

15:55 Traveling with a Young Child

16:49 Conclusion and Outro

Research/links:

The effect of leave policies on increasing fertility: a systematic review | Humanities and Social Sciences Communications

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-022-01270-w

(PDF) Does Parental Leave Affect Fertility and Return-to-Work? Evidence from a "True Natural Experiment"

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5135837_Does_Parental_Leave_Affect_Fertility_and_Return-to-Work_Evidence_from_a_True_Natural_Experiment

The Daily — Fertility and baby names, 2024

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250924/dq250924d-eng.htm

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

Happy Canada Day!

In this special Canada Day episode of The Missing Middle Podcast, the team takes a break from focusing on Canada's challenges to share what makes them optimistic about the country's future. From housing reforms and immigration to education, community, nature, and Canadian values, each member reflects on what they love most about Canada and why they remain hopeful.

Topics covered:

• Housing reform and recent progress on zoning and development charges
• Canada's sense of community and belonging
• Education affordability and student experiences
• Immigration and Canada's multicultural identity
• Nature, cities, and public spaces
• Canadian humour, humility, and culture
• Canadian values, civic engagement, and democracy
• Why constructive criticism is a form of patriotism
• What gives Canadians reason for optimism heading into the future

What makes you optimistic about Canada? Let us know in the comments below.

#CanadaDay #Canada #TheMissingMiddle #CanadaHousing #CanadianEconomy #CanadianValues

Chapters:

YouTube Chapters (8:52)

00:00 Why We're Talking About Optimism This Canada Day
00:40 Cara Stern: Summers, Housing & Reasons for Optimism
01:43 Sean Foreman: Canada's Secret Weapon is Humour
02:57 Kelly Hoban: An American's Perspective on Canada
03:52 Meredith Martin: Nature, Immigration & Hope
05:36 Sabrina Maddeaux: Canadian Values, Kindness & Common Sense
07:48 Mike Moffatt: Why Criticism Is Patriotism

Research/Links:

A History of Tommy Thompson Park

https://trca.ca/news/tommy-thompson-park-history/

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

For years, Canada's housing strategy focused on increasing the number of housing units built. But even during periods of record apartment construction, family-sized homes became increasingly scarce.

In this episode of the Demografix, Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern unpack a major problem hidden inside Canada's housing statistics: the country is building fewer family-sized homes than it did 20 years ago.

Why are three-bedroom homes becoming so difficult to find? Why are developers building more small condos instead of homes for families? And how do zoning rules, development charges, land shortages, and housing policies shape what gets built?

The conversation explores:

• Why housing "units" and housing "homes" are not the same thing
• The dramatic decline in single-detached homes, semis, and townhouses
• Why family-sized condos remain rare and expensive
• How rising land costs and government policies affect housing supply
• The connection between housing affordability and Canada's falling birth rate
• Why many young families are leaving major cities
• Policy solutions that could help create more family-friendly housing

If Canada wants cities that work for young families, workers, and future generations, we need to start measuring success by more than just the number of housing units built.

Chapters:

00:55 What Families Actually Need In A Home

02:00 Why Three-Bedroom Apartments Are So Rare

04:09 Why Condos Stop Making Sense For Families

05:00 Canada Is Building Fewer Family-Sized Homes

07:06 The Problem With Counting “Units” Instead Of Homes

09:03 Who Shoebox Condos Actually Work For

10:07 If Demand Is Strong, Why Aren’t Builders Responding?

12:14 Why The GTA Builds Fewer Family Homes

14:02 Urban Boundaries, Sprawl, And Long Commutes

15:16 Taxes And Fees That Favor McMansions

16:52 Why Developers Don’t Build Family-Sized Apartments

18:28 Housing Costs, Birth Rates, And Families Leaving Cities

22:05 How Canada Could Fix Family Housing

Research/links:

From Policy Gridlock to Housing Growth: A Roadmap for Gentle Density

https://www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/p/from-policy-gridlock-to-housing-growth

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here and Canada is on a roll! But as the excitement builds on the pitch, we're asking the tough questions: will this massive event actually deliver the economic win that was promised?

In this episode, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux dive into the real costs of hosting the world's biggest party. They break down the billion-dollar price tags, FIFA's business model, and whether taxpayers are getting stuck with the bill while others reap the rewards. (Producer note: This episode was recorded on June 5th, 2026.)

Topics covered:

• The economics of hosting the FIFA World Cup
• Why economists question projected economic benefits
• Public spending on stadiums, security, and infrastructure
• Tourism displacement and local business impacts
• Housing, short-term rentals, and affordability concerns
• FIFA's revenue model and tax treatment
• Transit, traffic, and quality-of-life effects for residents
• Lessons from previous World Cup host countries
• Dynamic ticket pricing and the changing fan experience

If you enjoy thoughtful discussions on housing, infrastructure, public policy, and the economic issues affecting Canada's middle class, subscribe for more episodes from The Missing Middle.

Chapters:

00:00 The World Cup's Economic Myth
00:49 The Benefits Nobody Talks About
03:32 Can Hosting the World Cup Actually Lose Money?
05:11 Why More Tourists Doesn't Mean More Growth
07:00 Who's Really Paying the $1 Billion Bill?
08:23 FIFA's Billion-Dollar Business Model
09:19 Cities Pay, FIFA Profits
10:39 The Tax Breaks You Didn't Know About
12:27 The Hidden Costs for Residents
15:21 What Past World Cups Teach Us
17:07 Are These Games Worth the Price?
17:49 Why World Cup Tickets Are Exploding in Cost
19:22 The People's Game or a VIP Experience?

Research:

BMO Capital Markets -- Canada World Cup GDP boost (up to $6.5B):

https://www.wealthprofessional.ca/news/industry-news/bmo-world-cup-2026-set-to-deliver-up-to-c65-billion-economic-boost-for-canada/392593

The World Cup is expensive, but it’s our turn to pick up the tab

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/article-the-world-cup-is-expensive-but-its-our-turn-to-pick-up-the-tab/

ProPublica -- 'You do, you pay, we take': how FIFA's host city deals work:

https://www.propublica.org/article/world-cup-2026-host-cities-revenue-houston

CBC -- FIFA/Deloitte economic impact assessment for Canada ($3.8B figure):

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/world-cup-2026-canada-fifa-economic-benefits-1.7406435

BNN Bloomberg -- Why economic impact on Vancouver and Toronto may never be known:

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/economics/2026/05/11/blind-side-why-world-cup-economic-impact-on-vancouver-and-toronto-may-never-be-known/

Bloomberg Tax -- FIFA 2026 World Cup tax demands on host countries:

https://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-management-international/fifa-2026-world-cup-blows-the-whistle-on-complex-tax-risks

CP24 -- Toronto holds transit fares steady; NJ Transit $48M bill; Boston $80 game-day fare:

https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2026/04/16/toronto-will-not-hike-cost-of-transit-during-world-cup-as-other-host-cities-announce-big-fare-increases-to-venues/

ESPN -- World Cup ticket sticker shock and dynamic pricing:

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48947095/2026-fifa-world-cup-sticker-shock-ugly-cost-beautiful-game-grand-event

Victor Matheson / Holy Cross -- The Economics of the World Cup (academic; stadium white elephants, tourism overestimates):

https://hcapps.holycross.edu/hcs/RePEc/hcx/HC1805-Matheson_WorldCup.pdf

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/