Green Party’s Elizabeth May was a habitual EI user: ‘When I needed it, I used it’

It's no surprise that Elizabeth May joined her opposition colleagues Thursday, in denouncing the Harper government's new employment insurance rules which seem to target repeat EI users.

The Green Party leader, after all, was a habitual EI user herself.

May told the National Post that from 1975 to 1980, she received what was then called unemployment insurance during the off-season while working as a waitress and cook at her family's restaurant and gift shop business in Cape Breton.

"I paid into employment insurance. When I needed it, I used it. When I didn't, I didn't. I raise my personal experience because I don't think anyone should be ashamed that seasonal businesses in this country that are big, or small, have benefited from a legal system of insurance that pays for itself," she said arguing that dubbing regular users of EI lazy or abusing the system is unfair.

"I'm coming out myself and saying this was my life. If you want to say this is a wrong way to live, fine. Let's have that conversation."

On Friday, May took to Twitter to expand on her comments.

"I lived in a town of 42 people. Summer, worked 24-7. Winter season no jobs," she said in one tweet.

"My larger point is that larger industries, forestry, rely on EI to have a workforce ready when they need it," she wrote in another.

Besides the hospitality industry and the forestry industry, here are some other sectors that could be adversely affected by the new rules:

Farming:

Charles Keddy owns and operates Keddy Nurseries in Lakeville, Kings County, Nova Scotia. Last year, his farm harvested 19 million strawberry plants, most of which were exported to Florida. He recently expanded into raspberries, asparagus, rhubarb, highbush blueberries and sweet potatoes.

According to the Chronicle Herald, Keddy employs up to 20 seasonal local workers - some of which had been with him for 30 years or more - and he fears losing them if they're forced to take other jobs.

Film industry:

Karen Pelrine, a film production coordinator in Vancouver, says the new rules are bad news for her industry.

"From what I understand the changes are going to affect people who are repeat users of EI," she said told CKNW Radio's Simi Sara Show.

"I, like all of us in the film industry, we get a show, we do the show, we work tons of hours and then the show ends and then we're on the market again looking for work. And it's normal that work does not follow right away.

"Sometimes we have long gaps. And that's where EI saves us. It's part of the career really for people that are working in the film industry."

Pelrine said the new rules may push her to a career change.

"It actually scares me."

Fisheries:

North Grant, Nova Scotia fisherman Dan MacDougall told the Chronicle Herald EI remains an important part of that industry.

"When you have a good deckhand, the last thing you say to him at the end of the fishing season is 'I want you back next year,'" said MacDougall.

"A good deckhand makes a big difference and is a valuable asset. If these changes mean they'll have to drive an hour to take a minimum-wage job in the fall, then it will be hard to keep them."