Seasonal work & new EI rules.
 

I have done my very best in trying to figure out the new rules and how they work regarding seasonal work.

I am a commercial fisherman and work seasonal 6 months out of the year, in those 6 months I pay into EI. In my 6 months off I usually claim EI Fishing benefits. Which of course makes me a frequent claimant.

With the new rules in effect this year the info I got out of it was as a frequent claimant I would only be allowed a claim for 1-2 months max. After that I'm on my own, good luck, go find work.

Now where things start to not make sense to me is, fishing is my career. I love it, I've been doing it for years. Where else am I going to find a job that will hire me for the 6 months during off season? From an employers stand point it doesn't make sense, why hire someone that can only give you 6 months at a time then he is gone.

I guess what I am asking is was there something I missed somewhere? Something that will enable to keep my fishing benefits longer? Or a program that will link out of season workers with temporary steady work?

So you want to get paid by the government for doing 6 months of nothing?

Become a politican, find a new job or deal with it.

-There are lots of people who do seasonal work at ski hills or golf courses
-Use those 6 months to start a trade welding(approx. 7 months), use your marine contacts and start doing aluminum repairs
-Learn scuba diving and clean the bottom of boats

You could easily find work for 6 months at a time depending on your skills.

too many abusers in the maritimes man.