Blaming unions for misinformation about the employment insurance program, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that seasonal workers are not chucked out when it comes to employment insurance.

"It's important to say that there's a lot of misinformation on this," said Stephen Harper referring to the changes in the employment insurance program.

 "I read that some unions were saying we're cutting seasonal workers. That is completely false. We have no intention of doing that," Canadian Press quoted the prime minister as saying.

Harper's comment came after Human Resource Minister Diane Finley Thursday said that the federal government had not conducted any studies on the consequences of the reforms.

The Human Resource Minister made the employment insurance reform announcement last May where he said the reform was meant to help Canadians "who want to work, get back to work."

"Our Government wants to make Employment Insurance work better for Canadians," the minister said in the announcement.

 Hundreds of people gathered and protested against the employment insurance reform at Premier Tech plant where the Canadian prime minister was announcing a $9.2 million loan to the company in order to generate more jobs across the country Thursday.

The Canadian Press reported that protests were held even in Ottawa calling upon the federal government to reconsider the employment insurance program.

"We're going to monitor the progress of the program and if there is a need for changes, we will make adjustments," said Agnes Maltais, Quebec employment minister.

In accordance to the new reform, employment insurance claimants need to prove their job search if they were unemployed.

The new change urged the claimants to accept any job which they were qualified, as long as long as the salary is 70% of their previous salary.

"As Canada faces unprecedented skills shortages, it will be critical to better connect Canadians with available jobs in their local area," said minister Finley. "Clarifying what is expected of claimants looking for work is just one element of our broader plan to encourage and support Canadians as they seek to return to work. Under our plan, Canadians will always benefit financially from accepting suitable employment." 

To contact the editor, e-mail: