Left Looking In

On the National Day of Mourning, Left Looking In remembers Local 416 member Jose Castillo and every worker killed, injured, or made ill because of unsafe working conditions. Dave and Ted are joined by Ontario Federation of Labour President, Laura Walton, and Local 416 Health and Safety lead, Carmine Fiore, to discuss the Not One More Worker campaign, the need to modernize risk assessments, and why...

The Blue Box transition is here and the rollout has been anything but smooth. In this episode, Dave and Ted break down what changed, who’s actually in charge of recycling now, and why accountability feels harder to find. If you’re frustrated, confused, or just want straight answers, this one’s for you.

In this special live episode of Left Looking In, host David Moscrop sits down with CUPE Local 416 President Eddie Mariconda and CUPE National President Mark Hancock to talk about worker power, political engagement, and the fights that shape public sector work in Canada. From the frontline role of stewards to national battles over anti-scab laws and the Air Canada strike, this conversation breaks d...

What does it take to build a city that truly cares for its people? Mayor Olivia Chow joins Dave Moscrop to talk about leading with compassion, rebuilding trust in public institutions, and bringing people together to solve Toronto’s toughest challenges. From housing to transit to the everyday heroes who keep the city moving, we’re unpacking how collaboration can shape a stronger, fairer Toronto for...

Behind every call for help is a workforce that needs time to breathe and space to recover. Local 416 paramedic leaders join Dave Moscrop to discuss what it takes to keep Toronto’s emergency response system running when the calls never stop. Peter Shirer and Charles Labelle outline the wins, the gaps, and the plan to secure better staffing, better recovery time, and better care for our city.

They say history repeats itself. This time, it’s on the mic. Host David Moscrop sits down with TCEU Local 416 President Eddie Mariconda and VP Ted Aivalis to unpack over a century of union history, from strikes and amalgamation to fights over privatization and what lies ahead for public workers in Toronto.

The climate crisis isn’t just about science – it’s about people and how we live, work, and take care of our communities. In this episode, Rick Smith, President of the Canadian Climate Institute, joins us to explore the critical intersection of climate action and workers' rights. We discuss how Canada can transition to a sustainable economy without sacrificing jobs, emphasizing the role of uni...

Housing affordability isn’t just a market issue, it’s a human one. In this episode, we sit down with Federal Minister of Housing, The Hon. Nate Erskine-Smith, to talk about real solutions to the housing crisis. From tackling red tape and exclusionary zoning to expanding non-market housing, we discuss what it will take to make housing more affordable and accessible for all Canadians.

In this episode of Left Looking In, we sit down with Candace Rennick, Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE National, to talk about what fuels the labour movement. From her first job in long-term care to leading national fights for fair wages and respect, Candace shares what she’s learned: organizing is the key to winning justice. We dive into the power of collective action, the resurgence of strikes across...

In this special episode of Left Looking In, host Dave Moscrop is joined by TCEU Local 416 VP, Ted Aivalis, and legendary pollster, Allan Gregg, to explore how politicians are working to connect with voters across Ontario. With early voting just days away, they unpack the critical relationships between workers, the government, and the opposition—focusing on key groups like new Canadians in the subu...

Welcome to the “Screaming Twenties!” In this lively kickoff to 2025, Dave Moscrop sits down with economist Armine Yalnizyan to dish on what’s in store for Canadian workers, from unstoppable demographic shifts to wage boosts and automation angst. Dive in to hear how solidarity, affordable housing, and the care economy could spark a hopeful (and more prosperous) future for everyone.

We're shaking things up in our latest episode of Left Looking In! This time, host Dave Moscrop spins the mic around, joining us as our guest to chat about his path from Plato enthusiast to PhD holder. Along with our guest host, Jen Hassum from the Broadbent Institute, they dig into how economic inequality and soaring living costs are stirring up modern-day troubles, drawing comparisons to his...

We're back! In this must-listen episode of Left Looking In, host David Moscrop is joined by the one and only David Miller, the former Toronto mayor. Together, they dive into the future of Ontario’s cities and their pivotal role in driving real, impactful change. With a potential spring election on the horizon, they break down what political parties need to prioritize—especially bold strategie...

In this Labour Day special, we explore the ongoing fight led by unionized workers to improve the lives of all Canadians. As workers push for fair wages, safer workplaces, and resist corporate greed, Labour Day’s significance is more relevant than ever.

In this week’s episode, Ted Aivalis, Vice President of Local 416, and Anishinabek Nation's Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe dive into a discussion about water rights and their impact on Indigenous communities, including the critical role of Toronto’s publicly managed water program. 

This week, we explore Toronto's Blue Box transition program and its effects on Local 416 members and the wider community. Joining us are Local 416 Vice President Ted Aivalis, former City Councillor Mike Layton, and Sarah Buchanan, Campaigns Director for the Toronto Environmental Alliance.

Over the last several months, we’ve heard a lot of people raising alarm bells over the state of our healthcare system. The underfunding, the burnout, things are reaching a real crisis point in Ontario.  Toronto Paramedic Services (TPS) provides 24/7 paramedic care in response to life-threatening medical emergencies. Hear from the CUPE 416 Paramedic Unit and the amazing team behind the Code Red Cam...

February is widely recognized as Black History Month and there is no shortage of events and celebrations to honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities. On our podcast this month we welcome Councillor Amber Morley was elected to represent Ward 3, Etobicoke-Lakeshore on Toronto City Council back in 2022, beating out a 5-time incumbent councillor and making her one of the youngest mem...

Join David Moscrop with Ted Aivalis, CUPE 416 Vice President and co-host of Left Looking In, with guests Shelley Carroll, Toronto City Councillor and Budget Committee Chair and David Amborski, Professor at TMU’s School of Urban and Regional Planning as they dive deep into the heart of Toronto's future. Budgets convey priorities and the new leadership at City Hall will be using the 2024 budget...

Joining special guest host Jennifer Hassum, Executive Director of the Broadbent Institute and CUPE 416 President Eddie Mariconda, Laura Walton shares how she got involved in the labour movement, what motivates her and how she is approaching her new position as President of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL). Recently elected as the newest president of the OFL and represents over one million On...

The City of Toronto has been in a housing and homelessness crisis for a number of years. The escalating housing crisis, overburdened shelters, and the pandemic created the conditions for the worsening of homelessness and the emergence of encampments across Toronto. On this episode, host David Moscrop speaks with Ted Aivalis, Vice President of CUPE 416, Philip Austin, PFR Unit Chair with CUPE 416,...

Most Canadians understand Labour Day as the end of summer, a day off and a day of rest with many participating in parades and picnics. For parents, there may be a little more celebrating since the first day of school follows for students. But for unions and labour activists, it’s a day to celebrate the accomplishments of the labour movement and the benefits of having a union at work.  We’ve made p...

Tune in this week to hear from host David Moscrop and CUPE 416 Vice President Ted Aivalis as they debrief on the outcome of Toronto's recent mayoral race with our guests. Various opinion polls had Olivia Chow as the front-runner throughout much of the campaign, with no clear second-choice alternative really taking shape until the final weekend of the campaign. We dig into the outcome and what...

June is National Indigenous History Month - a time to recognize the rich history, heritage, resilience, and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis across Canada.  In this episode, David Moscrop co-host with CUPE 416's Vice President, Ted Aivalis to learn, explore and create a conversation with two incredible Indigenous voices in Ontario. Our two guests on this episode include Ontario ND...

This month, we are celebrating Earth Day and having a great conversation with our very special guests who know a thing or two about environmental strategies - particularly in the City of Toronto. David Moscrop interviews Sarah Buchanan from the Toronto Environmental Alliance and Toronto City Councillor Dianne Saxe one of Canada's most respected environmental and energy lawyers, with decades o...