Migrant workers in the gig economy are arguably the most exploited labour force in Canada.

Derailing Dignity, an art installation and sound piece opening May 16th, encourages people to make the connection between the convenience of online food delivery services and the human beings making it all happen. The exhibit opens May 16th, and is part of the 40th annual Mayworks Festival in Toronto.

It was created by Krish Dineshkumar, a cook, sound producer, activist and artist, who is constantly looking for creative ways to build empathy. He joins the Blueprints studio to share his creative process, the motivation behind using art as a tool of engagement and the other ways he works on nourishing the community.

He calls it 'heartwork', and makes the caring case that its something we could better prioritize when we think about organizing.

Hosted by: Jessa McLean

Call to Action: Support Gig Workers United

Related Episodes:

• Our interview with Justice for Migrant Workers
• Rabble Rant from August 2023, on the Temporary Foreign Workers Program

More Resources:

• Migration and Migrant Labour in the Gig Economy: An Intervention
• Migrant Rights Network
• Mayworks 2025 Festival Guide and Archive
• Krish's Cooked Until Tender on IG

📺YOU CAN CATCH US LIVE EVERY FRIDAY AT 12pm E.T. on our YouTube Channel.

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In order to best understand what happened to the NDP in the 2025 federal election, one has to learn about the decisions made under Jack Layton.

Who better to help us do this than historian and author of From Layton to Singh, Matt Fodor. This is a follow up to Matt's first appearance on the show where he explained in great detail how the team responsible for the Orange Crush deliberately and possibly permanently changed the course of the Party.

Hear why a leadership change just won't do and what Labour's role in all of this has been. Its essential listening for anyone considering reforming the NDP, as is the rest of the Inside the NDP playlist.

Hosted by: Jessa McLean

Related Episodes:

• Matt Fodor's first interview on Blueprints, A Deliberate Turn to Centre.
• Host Jessa McLean's deeply personal account, Why They Came for Me.

More Resources:

• Judy Rebick - The Future of the NDP after a Disastrous Election | In Bed with the Elephant
• Referenced Article: Mark Carney, Cutthroat Capitalist | The Walrus

📺YOU CAN CATCH US LIVE EVERY FRIDAY AT 12pm E.T. on our YouTube Channel.

All of our content is free - made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support our work through monthly contributions: Patreon

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Did you know that some public sector pensions, like the Ontario Municipality Employees Retirement System (OMERS) invests in the very companies that contribute to the exploitation of retirees and the commodification of aging?

That is just one example of 'social investments gone awry' that author and researcher Tom Fraser brings to our discussion from his book, Invested in Crisis, Public Sector Pensions Against the Future. He explains how we got to the point where (mostly unionized) workers are heavily invested in real estate across the globe, pipelines, privatized healthcare and water infrastructure, and other industries we're mobilizing against.

Good news is Tom also talks about potential solutions and ways out of this cycle of trying to secure power over industries by investing in them.

Hosted by: Jessa McLean

Call to Action: Support the Campaign to Divest Ontario Teachers Pension Plan

Related Episode:

• The Tenant Class, with Ricardo Tranjan, where the subject of real estate investment trusts is raised and the barrier pensions present;

More Resources:

• The Maple: Major Canadian Union Calls for Divestment of Tesla
• Buy Tom's Book: Invested in Crisis – Between the Lines
• Huff Post: COVID-19 Has Killed 164 At Revera's Care Homes. Their Families Want Answers.

📺YOU CAN CATCH US LIVE EVERY FRIDAY AT 12pm E.T. on our YouTube Channel.

All of our content is free - made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support our work through monthly contributions: Patreon

Follow us on Instagram or on Bluesky