OTTAWA – A union leader is blasting the Harper government for proceeding with contentious changes to Employment Insurance.
   
Wayne Lucas says the changes will hurt seasonal workers, especially on the East Coast, forcing them to take lower paying jobs.
   
Human Resources Minister Diana Finley says new regulations will take effect January 6th.
   
They’ll encourage unemployed workers to take available jobs fairly close to home, even if they pay less than their previous work.
   
The requirements for job searches are also being tightened  – EI recipients must research job opportunities, prepare a resume, register for job banks, attend job fairs and apply for jobs.
   
Lucas, the president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees in Newfoundland and Labrador, says the reforms will be catastrophic for workers on the east coast.
   
Finlay says her reforms are about common sense and adds she’s listened to the concerns of seasonal workers.