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 workplace deaths must be treated as preventable failures, not tragic accidents.

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 down how solidarity is built – and why it matters now more than ever.

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 us all.

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 unions in shaping environmental policy, and the need for early worker involvement in climate discussions.

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 Canada, and why unions give workers the courage and confidence to demand better.

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 suburbs, and blue-collar workers. After all, these are the voters who could shape the future of the province.