Getting an outside perspective on solving the issues that matter to Ontarians.
Left Looking In is a new podcast launched by CUPE 416 hosting conversations on important issues that matter to our members, friends and family. Co-hosted by David Moscrop and Local 416 President Eddie Mariconda, special guests from CUPE 416, and others in Ontario.
New podcasts will be posted on the first Tuesday of every month, featuring new topics, new guests but the same outside perspective and conversations we need.
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Left Looking In
Now Available!
Episode #27 What We’re Up Against
March 7, 2025
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.
Episode #26 Wait…There’s an Election?
February 14, 2025
In this special episode of Left Looking In, host Dave Moscropis 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.
Episode #25 Where To From Here
January 15, 2025
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.
Episode #24 Musings with Moscrop
December 23, 2024
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 historic events like the French Revolution. Join them as they unpack why it’s crucial to revamp our economic systems, boost worker empowerment, and ensure wealth is shared more equitably.
Episode #23 A Solid Plan for Cities – Ft. David Mille
December 6, 2024
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 strategies for climate resilience.
Episode #22 – Labour Day – All wins that benefit all workers
September 13, 2024
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.
Episode #21 – Water For All
June 7, 2024
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.
Episode #20 – All Things Blue Box and Sustainability
May 7, 2024
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.
Episode #19 – Toronto Paramedic Services & the Code Red Campaign
April 2, 2024
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 Campaign, Charles Labelle and Karen Harwood.
Episode #18 – Highlighting the history and cultures of Black communities in Toronto
February 26, 2024
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 members of council. For over 20 years, Councillor Morley has been working on behalf of the people in her ward, while pursuing advocacy at all levels of government.
We also hear from Jared Walker, Senior Strategist and Chair of the Black Youth Fellowship. Jared is the inaugural Chair of the Black Youth Fellowship that was launched at Toronto City Hall a few years ago and a board member for the Urban Alliance of Race Relations and the Broadbent Institute.
Episode #17 – All About The 2024 Toronto City Budget
January 24, 2024
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 to outline the City’s path forward.
Before the holiday break, Toronto signed a ‘New Deal’ with the province of Ontario that was passed by council and includes measures like uploading the Gardiner and DVP by the end of this year among other things that require the federal government’s involvement.
But as the city recently signalled, much more is needed to handle Toronto’s fiscal crisis. Toronto launched its budget process earlier this month with city staff outlining proposed operating and capital spending packages.
Episode #16 – Emerging Leaders in Labour: Laura Walton, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour
January 8, 2024
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 Ontario workers. Laura brings energy and experience having served as the president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees’ Ontario School Boards Council of Unions (OSBCU) since 2019 and was on the CUPE Ontario Executive Board.
Episode #15 – The Future of Encampments in the City of Toronto
November 13, 2023
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, and Diana Chan McNally, a community Harm Reduction worker.
Episode #14 – Labour Day – Past, Present and Future
September 8, 2023
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 progress, but that fight continues especially today while affordability and cost of living continue to rise. We dig into this with two special guests – Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress and national director of the New Democratic Party of Canada, Anne McGrath.
Episode #13 – Toronto Mayoral Race Wrap Up
July 7, 2023
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 it means for labour with special guests Quito Maggi, CEO and President at Mainstreet Research, a Canadian market research and polling firm, and Erin Morrison, an experienced communications advisor for politicians across the country and at the municipal, provincial and federal levels.
Episode #12 – Celebrate National Indigenous History Month with us!
June 30, 2023
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 NDP MPP and Deputy Leader, Sol Mamakwa, and Selina Young from the City of Toronto’s Indigenous Affairs Office.
Episode #11 – A greener future for Toronto & how we get there.
April 21, 2023
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 of experience as a non-partisan expert in the space.
Episode #10 – Embracing Equity in the Labour Movement
March 8, 2023
On this month’s episode, we welcome special guest host, Jennifer Hassum, Executive Director of the Broadbent Institute to the podcast for our first-ever, all-female panel in celebration of International Women’s Day!
In this episode, Jennifer speaks with the newly elected Leader of the Ontario NDP, Marit Stiles and Toronto City Councillor Shelley Carroll. Our guests celebrate the progress we’ve made, the issues that matter most to us today, and how politics and unions can be a catalyst for positive change when it comes to embracing equity.
Episode #9: Celebrating Black History Month
February 15, 2023
February is recognized as Black History month and there is no shortage of events and celebrations to honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities, especially in Toronto. But it’s also a time to reflect and educate ourselves on the history of Black enslavement, discrimination and criminalization of people of African descent, and to remember that racism still exists.
Join David Moscrop and guests Chris Moise, Toronto City Councillor and Avaline Miller, First Vice-President for CUPE Local 79 as they discuss what it means to celebrate and recognize the innovations of black people and communities.
Episode #8: Ontario’s big housing affordability challenge
January 17, 2023
Affordability and the rising cost of living usurpingly are said to remain as significant challenges in 2023. Affordable housing has been a priority issue for people for some time now. Toronto is home to the world’s biggest housing bubble. There are many mechanisms being talked about to address housing affordability, and to understand them better we called on the experts: Toronto City Councillor Brad Bradford, and CUPE National’s senior economist, Angella MacEwan.
Special: What happened in Ontario? The Election that changed very little.
Co-hosts David Moscrop and Eddie Mariconda welcome guests Hamish Marshall political pollster and Conservative strategist and Emilie Taman, Lawyer and co-host of The Docket podcast and former federal NDP candidate, alongside Mark Hancock, National President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
Episode 7: Education Workers, Public Sector Negotiations & the Right to Strike
December 15, 2022
There is so much to unpack here… we dive into the current public sector negotiations in Ontario, what’s happening with education workers, how the Ford government has handled these talks, and what the future looks like for the Right to Strike. Host, David Moscrop, is in conversation this week with Peggy Nash, former MP and former national president of the New Democratic Party, Jonathan Weier, historian, labour and political organizer, and adjunct professor of labour history at George Br…
Episode #6: What’s going on in the city?
November 7, 2022
Hosted by David Moscrop and Eddie Mariconda, this week’s episode includes conversations about the recent Ontario municipal elections, the challenges facing cities, and in particular, municipal public works. Our guests this week include Jennifer McKelvie, Toronto City Councillor for Ward 25, Scarborough Rouge and Joe Mihevc, Toronto City Councillor for Ward 10, Spadina-Fort York.
Episode #5: Labour Growth & Labour Wins *LIVE Episode*
October 7, 2022
Listen this month’s Left Looking In podcast with David Moscrop, Eddie Mariconda and special guest Jennifer Hassum from the Broadbent Institute for a very special LIVE episode. On this episode, we explore the role of labour, does labour have a “duty” to be involved in politics and analyzing some recent wins for labour. Listen now!
Episode #4: The Voice of First Responders
September 8, 2022
With Paramedic Services facing staffing and resource pressures, what does this mean for the future of first response?
With David Moscrop, as Left Looking In’s host, Eddie Mariconda, President CUPE Local 416 – Recurring co-host and panelists Mike Merriman, CUPE 416 Paramedic Rep and Dr. David Walker, Professor at Queen’s University.
Episode #3: The media landscape – and what has changed.
August 8, 2022
CUPE 416 and host David Moscrop try to get beyond the talking points, the Twitter sniping and the slogans that drives so much of our contemporary discourse. With special guests Susan Delacourt from the Toronto Star, Martin Lukacs of The Breach, and Press Progress’ Luke LeBrun to banter about the changing way we report, consume and stay up to date with the news.
Episode #2: What happened in Ontario? The Election that changed very little.
July 7, 2022
Co-hosts David Moscrop and Eddie Mariconda welcome guests Hamish Marshall political pollster and Conservative strategist and Emilie Taman, Lawyer and co-host of The Docket podcast and former federal NDP candidate, alongside Mark Hancock, National President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
Episode #1: Next Gen Work
June 5, 2022
What does it mean? In conversation with some of Ontario’s biggest advocates for examining what the future of work looks like and what it means for union members, featuring Andrew Cash, Jennifer Hassum, and Dr. Sunil Johal, with our very special guest Eddie Mariconda.
