Meredith Martin 🇨🇦

My favourite new thing about getting old is when I’m wearing reading glasses and then I try and put another pair of reading glasses on top because I’ve forgotten I’m already wearing them.

It’s fine, I’M FINE!

The province just lowered its housing forecast again in the Fall Economic Statement (FES). There will be 17,000 fewer homes by 2028, leaving Ontario 390,000 homes short of its goal.

The crisis isn’t slowing. It’s accelerating because all levels of gov still can't act with cohesion or conviction.

I’m still thinking about that game. What a team. 108 days until spring training.

This October had a lifetime’s worth of baseball drama in just four weeks. What a joy it’s been. Thank you @bluejays! You’re an incredible team! 💙💙⚾️💙💙

The Greatest Game I've Ever Seen? Trying to make sense of Game Seven as I sit among the fog and ghosts in Cooperstown.

I wept reading this

Jays in 7!

Jays in six, LETS GOOOO!

Do You Have a CRA Horror Story? Canada’s tax code is too complicated and we’re all paying for it

And for everyone who prefers to read the transcript rather than watch/listen, here's a link to our blog:

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 chao Do You Have a CRA Horror Story?

On this week's episode of the Missing Middle pod, @SabrinaMaddeaux and @MikePMoffatt 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.

Millions of Canadians have experienced the special hell that is waiting on hold for someone from CRA to answer. You may even be one of the nearly 80k taxpayers who were wrongfully assessed last year. @MikePMoffatt & @SabrinaMaddeaux examine what the data is telling us about CRA

What a Night of Baseball Six hours, 39 minutes, 19 pitchers, a half dozen legends, one unforgettable game

Baseball is the absolute best sport for stories and storytelling. This summary of last night's 18-inning WS game by (GOAT) Joe Posnanski is perfect www.joeposnanski.com...
HT @MikePMoffatt

Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers mystique take the lead at the World Series Blue Jays can’t afford to be less than perfect against Ohtani, who had his fingerprints all over the Dodgers’ Game 3 win

I never play the game where you analyze the coaches moves. He knows more than I do. But, personally, I’d never let anyone on my team pitch to Ohtani. It should be illegal.

Passan: Toronto waited 32 years for another World Series win -- and Game 1 delivered On a night Toronto had been waiting for for decades, the Blue Jays showed they're more than ready for their moment.

In an era of copious strikeouts, the Blue Jays don't. In a time of shoddy defense, the Blue Jays play clean. And even against a juggernaut like the Dodgers, a team full of late bloomers and second chancers can look like a dominant force.

As rumoured, Fletcher moved for the item on Craven Road garden suites to be deferred. The consultations will continue until morale improves.

The Rental Paradox: Why Lower Prices Aren’t Enough A conversation with Max Steinman, the CEO of RentSync and Rentals.ca

If you prefer to read the transcript rather than watch/listen, here's a link to our blog:

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 dec The Rental Paradox: Why Lower Prices Aren't Enough

On this week's Missing Middle podcast, @SabrinaMaddeaux talks to @teamrentsync's Max Steinman to discuss what’s driving the recent rent declines, how rent control policies backfired, and why “financialization” isn’t the villain it’s made out to be.

Rent control has created a perverse incentive for landlords to provide a less good experience for tenants to ensure the healthy turnover of units, says @teamrentsyns's Max Steinman to @SabrinaMaddeaux on this week's Missing Middle pod.

Good luck tonight to the @BlueJays from everyone at the Missing Middle for the first game 7 since 1985. As a token of our appreciation, here's a video of @MikepMoffatt and me awkwardly doing the wave.

LET'S GOOOOOOOO

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 rev Nightmare on Craven Road: When Local Politics Derail Citywide Housing Goals

Here's the full episode on 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.

This is the email that went out to neighbours, and I think anyone who had already signed up to voice their opinion. 17 people had submitted emails or letters.

UPDATE: The Toronto and East York council vote on the proposed Garden Suite changes on Parkmount/Craven Road has been postponed. I got an email from one of the residents, and apparently, Councillor Fletcher's office sent out an email this morning.

Globe editorial: An injection of innovation for children’s vaccination A centralized, digital system would give parents and health care professionals the information needed to keep immunization records up to date for kids

This!

In case you missed it, Daaaa Yankees Lose!!! is how we greet each other now.

Toronto’s Housing Problems Just Went Provincial From Toronto to Trenton, the housing shortage continues to spill out faster than politicians can react.

And for all the lovely and talented wonks out there who prefer to read the transcript rather than watch the video, here's a link to the blog:

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 so Eastbound and Outpriced: The Great GTA Family Migration

This week's episode of the Missing Middle Pod, featuring @SabrinaMaddeaux & @MikepMoffatt, delves into a new report that reveals how the shortage of family-friendly homes in the GTA has driven young families east and south, reshaping entire regions.

Does it make more sense for young people to change their preferences for 3-bedroom homes, or should city and provincial planning change what's available for them from tiny condos to places large enough for families? @SabrinaMaddeaux & @MikepMoffatt have some thoughts

The Yankees’ season is on the line. So are their chances to maximize peak Aaron Judge The Yankees will need to win three in a row over the Blue Jays to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the American League Division Series.

“…but Jays superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. arguably has produced more electrifying postseason moments in two days – a first-inning homer in Game 1, a grand slam in Game 2 – than Judge has in his entire career.“

There less than 1% chance of the Yankees coming back from this.

Tiny Boxes, Tiny Condos, Big Problems Why Canadians are paying more for less, especially when it comes to housing

And for all the beautiful wonks who prefer to read the transcript rather than watch the video, here is a link to our blog:

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 Kraft Dinner to Condos: The Great Shrinkage

Tune into this week's episode of the Missing Middle pod to find out why @SabrinaMaddeaux stopped eating Kraft Dinner and @MikepMoffatt isn't a major league pitcher.