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Cara Stern

@carastern.bsky.social
4.1K followers 181 following 161 posts

Journalist Obsessed with housing and the ongoing disappearance of the middle class. Co-host for the Missing Middle podcast with Mike Moffatt Former producer for The Agenda with Steve Paikin on TVO

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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Thanks Meredith Martin 🇨🇦 for producing this. It's nice to rage with you.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Overriding local decisions that allow for more housing supply makes zero sense. Watching a conservative government add heavy regulation to free-market housing supply is simply mind-boggling.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Seriously. I see so many people on Twitter saying that they don't want multiplexes because they don't want so much immigration, and I can't help wondering if they noticed over the past bunch of years how a lack of housing never stopped immigration. It just forced the poorest into worse conditions.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
What happens when you want to have 25 people over for a party? Where are they supposed to park!? (This argument comes courtesy of a former cabinet minister living in the Annex, but I assume is actually part of the logic here too.)
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Grow Together Edmonton @growtogetheryeg.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
The news today is disheartening, so channel that anger and email your representatives. Tell Danielle Smith to get her hands off Edmonton's affairs, and tell council to NOT comply and repeal the zoning bylaw Use our tool for a starter message 👇 www.growtogetheryeg.com/email-council #yeg #yegcc
growtogetheryeg.com
Grow Together Edmonton
Grow Together YEG is a coalition of citizens advocating for a more sustainable, vibrant and Edmonton. We support Edmonton's new zoning bylaw and the City Plan.
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Eric Lombardi (EricForOLP.ca) @ericlombardi.ca · 05/10/2026
I’m looking forward to joining @carastern.bsky.social and the Missing Middle podcast for a live conversation on my run for Ontario Liberal leader. Join in at noon tomorrow! Should be fun :)
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Tomorrow, I'm going to chat live with @ericlombardi.ca about the four months he spent running for leadership of the Ontario Liberals. We'll discuss youth in politics, handling critics, and why he stepped down. Spend your lunch with us & ask questions live!
youtube.com
What Happens When an Outsider Runs for Party Leader? | Eric Lombardi - YouTube
Thanks for joining our exclusive live broadcast. Feel free to share your questions and interact with other participants in the chat.
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Lanrick Bennett @lanrickbennett.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
✅ In this episode of DemograFix, @carastern.bsky.social sits down with Tom Babin, urban cycling advocate and creator of the YouTube channel @shifter.info, to break down the growing "bike-lash" across Canada and the U.S. h/t @meredithmartin.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z76... #FridayFlex
youtube.com
Why Everyone Is Fighting Over Bike Lanes
YouTube video by Missing Middle Podcast
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Robert Zaichkowski @rzaichkowski.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
The latest Missing Middle Podcast with @carastern.bsky.social & @shifter.info does a good job looking into bikelash. Argues bike advocates are good at getting decision makers on board but not with winning the hearts and minds of suburbanites. #BikeTO #TOpoli #ONpoli www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z76...
youtube.com
Why Everyone Is Fighting Over Bike Lanes
YouTube video by Missing Middle Podcast
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Meredith Martin 🇨🇦 @meredithmartin.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
And for anyone who prefers to read the transcript rather than watch/listen, here's a link to our Substack:
missingmiddleinitiative.substack.com
Bikelash: Why Bike Lanes Triggered a Culture War
How a form of urban transit became one of the most effective political wedge issues
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Meredith Martin 🇨🇦 @meredithmartin.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Here's the full episode of DemograFix where Cara Stern sits down with Tom Babin AKA Tom Babin, an urban cycling advocate and creator of the YouTube channel Shifter, to break down the growing "bike-lash" across Canada and the U.S.
youtu.be
Why Everyone Is Fighting Over Bike Lanes
How did bike lanes become the ultimate political wedge issue? In this episode of DemograFix, Cara Stern sits down with Tom Babin, urban cycling advocate and creator of the YouTube channel Shifter, to break down the growing "bike-lash" across Canada and the U.S. From provincial overrides in Ontario
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Meredith Martin 🇨🇦 @meredithmartin.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
How did bike lanes become the ultimate political wedge issue? Cara Stern & Tom Babin dig into it in today's episode of Demografix.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
City leaders need to stop using public regulation to shield wealthy homeowners from sharing our public roads with their neighbours living in multiplexes. Either let the market dictate parking access or keep public streets open to everyone living nearby.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
New from me in the Hub: Banning multiplex residents from street parking permits creates a two-tier class system that protects the convenience of single-family homeowners at the expense of Canadians who are already settling for less.
thehub.ca
Parking: The not-so-hidden problem making our housing crisis worse
Empty parking lots, pricier homes: how outdated parking mandates are making Canada's housing crisis worse than it needs to be.
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Meredith Martin 🇨🇦 @meredithmartin.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Ontario has a power grid problem. Today's deeply nerdy episode of the Missing Middle podcast examines "the last mile" of infrastructure quietly halting major housing projects across the province. With @SabrinaMaddeaux & @MikePMoffatt
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Once again, I'm asking our provincial leaders to please draw out their proposed side street routes. I really want to know where between Avenue and Mount Pleasant, in particular, they think north south bike lanes can go.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
The damage Doug Ford is doing goes way beyond Toronto's streets. It's very clear other provincial leaders are looking at him and feeling inspired. It's already happening.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Oh, that makes sense. Thank you.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Whoa! That's really odd. I've never seen that!
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
He's very aware this is just a culture war, and it's not about facts at all.
facts.at
facts marketing – Event- & Sportmarketing Agentur
Die Kreativ- & Kommunikationsagentur mit 30 Jahren Erfahrung. Wir entwickeln Konzepte, die Marken stärken & Menschen begeistern.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
And if you prefer reading over watching, as always, the transcript is available:
missingmiddleinitiative.ca
Why Is IVF Becoming So Common in Canada?
More Canadians are turning to fertility treatments as parenthood gets pushed later in life.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
It's such a big issue. Delaying parenthood along with other milestones has huge economic consequences. Watch the full episode here:
youtu.be
Why Is IVF Becoming So Common in Canada?
Fertility treatment is becoming increasingly common in Canada. But why? On this episode of DemograFix, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt dig into the dramatic rise of IVF and fertility treatment in Canada, and what it tells us about how Canadians are building families. IVF births in Ontario have nearly
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
I'm really proud of today's Missing Middle Podcast episode. We talked about the increased use in fertility treatments in Canada, and dissected whether it's from greater need vs. access. It's just another place where our lives today are different from generations before us.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Your traffic vs chest congestion paragraph is amazing.
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Alex Bozikovic @alexbozikovic.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
The bike lane decision is extraordinary. The Ontario Court of Appeal flat out saying: more lanes make cars go fast and “induced demand” is just a theory. Aggressively hostile to 80 years of theory and empirical evidence. coadecisions.ontariocourts.ca/coa/coa/en/i...
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
If you're in Montreal, join us for this event! @uytaelee.bsky.social and I will be joining the crew for the bike vs. transit errand test after hosting our own chat at noon.
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Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
New bike. See you tomorrow.
Xtracycle electric cargo bike
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Uytae Lee @uytaelee.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
About to go live with @milesintransit.com, @ardenenglish.bsky.social, @carastern.bsky.social, and maybe more at www.youtube.com/live/lTw27Vn...
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
I once asked Chow about this, and she said it was up to the BIAs to put it forward. You'd think a mayor could champion it, and get people on board with the idea. The crowds at all our street festivals here shows there so much demand for it.
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Lanrick Bennett @lanrickbennett.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Many will be hurt and killed because of the decision to remove protected bike lanes. But a reminder to #BikeTO: at the same time as being upset with the province, know that our elected municipal reps are equally culpable. Prioritizing the safety of vulnerable road users shouldn't be this hard.
A person on a bike protesting the removal of bike lanes with a sign that reads "How Many Have To Die"
Matt Elliott
 @graphicmatt.com
· Jun 5, 2025
Notable back-and-forth between @lanrickbennett.bsky.social and Councillor Paula Fletcher here. Lanrick makes good argument for protected bike lanes on Jones Ave, as previously approved by council. Fletcher says that plan takes away too many parking spaces. beachmetro.com/2025/06/05/i...

In My Opinion: Need for protected cycle tracks on Jones Avenue must be made clear to local councillor – Beach Metro Community News
The Jones Avenue bike lane looking north between Queen Street East and Dundas Street East is seen in this photo. Photo by Alan Shackleton. By LANRICK
beachmetro.com
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Tom Flood @tomflood.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
These ones on college aren’t in jeopardy (don’t think) but this will give folks an idea(who don’t know) what it’s like biking with and without lanes
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Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Bloor Street is the spine of the bike network in Toronto. Ripping it out would be like removing Saint-Denis in Montreal.
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Tom Babin @shifter.info · 12/08/2026
New video: A big list of the things anybody can do to help their city get a little more friendly to cycling youtu.be/GlhoHnlmbtk
youtu.be
51 Things You Can Do to Make Your Community More Bike-Friendly
YouTube video by Shifter
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Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
They Said Car-Free Streets Were Bad for Business
youtu.be
They Said Car-Free Streets Were Bad for Business
YouTube video by Oh The Urbanity!
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Property taxes would be a great place to get funding for these fares! A citywide benefit deserves citywide funding. That's not what happened here though.
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Shawn Micallef @shawnmicallef.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Tomorrow is a good day or a bad day.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
General tax revenue is the perfect funding source for an initiative like this!
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
I'm heading up to Montreal this weekend for Canadian Civil Alive. You can find me tagging along to some of the events, and hosting a chat with Uytae Lee about the video we're working on together about the future of family-sized homes. See you there?
site.canadiancivil.com
Canadian Civil Alive 2026
Canadian Civil Alive is coming alive this year with a full day of advocacy and awesomeness in Montreal on August the 15.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
My kids definitely spend more time outside in winter than I do because of daycare. There's only a handful of days a year that it's too cold. Frankly, there are more that are too hot!
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
As I wrote in the Toronto Star today, homebuyers are footing the bill for the free ferry rides this month. That's not a good reason to tax new homes during a housing crisis.
thestar.com
Thanks, Mayor Chow, for the free ferry rides. But they shouldn’t be paid for this way
Section 37 funds shouldn’t be used to pay for free ferry rides for the whole city.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
It's not even the outcome that's the problem. Free transit for kids and seniors is a totally legit way to spend our tax dollars. The funding method is the issue. It's not a good excuse for another tax on housing.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Here's the link. Starts around 2h45m in. It's wild to watch them justify it to the councillors who questioned the legitimacy. They clearly all know it's bullshit and now how it's supposed to be used. www.youtube.com/live/JpkQBqM...
youtube.com
City Council - July 30, 2026 - Evening Session
YouTube video by Toronto City Council
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
It's worth watching the City Council meeting. The motion said they would use Section 37 funds for it, but they noted the motion isn't really using 37 funds because it's two motions in one. 1) Remove funding from the terminal project to fund the ferry fares 2) Use s37 for project for ferry.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Toronto's month of free ferry rides for kids and seniors are being paid for by homebuyers of one specific project. How does that make any sense? Just another tax on new homebuyers that make homes more expensive.
youtube.com
Toronto's $1.4 Million Budget Shell Game
Toronto City Council used a slick accounting trick to turn local community funds paid by Pinnacle One Yonge homebuyers into a city-wide freebie.
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Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
This year, Canadian Civil Alive in Montreal (organized by Paige Saunders) will be a little different. It’s organized around activities and YouTube videos in production that you can be involved in. Followed by a BBQ with everyone.
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Excited to join this awesome group in Montreal next month. See you there?
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Uytae Lee @uytaelee.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
There's only one meet-up I'm aware of for urbanist content creators and it happens once a year in Montreal. Sign up for Canadian Civil Alive and hope to see you there on August 15th!
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Meredith Martin 🇨🇦 @meredithmartin.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
And for those who prefer to read the transcript rather than watch/listen, here's a link to our Substack:
open.substack.com
Why Gen Z Can’t Find a Summer Job
How the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, rising competition, and policy choices are reshaping Canada's youth job market.
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Meredith Martin 🇨🇦 @meredithmartin.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Corporate lobbying and government policy have created a cheat code for business through the TFW program. As young Canadians face historic unemployment, Cara Stern & @MikePMoffatt explain how the system is shutting young workers out of the job market
youtu.be
Why Young People Can't Find Jobs Anymore
When a business faces a labour shortage, the free market says they should raise wages. So why is Canada’s government stepping in to make labour cheaper instead? In this episode of The Missing Middle, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt dive into how Canada's low-wage Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program
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Meredith Martin 🇨🇦 @meredithmartin.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
When a business faces a labour shortage, the free market says it should raise wages. So why is Canada’s government stepping in to make labour cheaper instead? Cara Stern & @MikePMoffatt explain:
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