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Human Resources Minister Diane Finley announced Thursday the implementation date and the regulations of the EI changes, which have sparked outrage from opposition parties but have been praised by small business groups.

“What we wanted to do is make sure people understood that when they exercise their right to EI, that they do understand — clearly — the responsibilities that go along with it,” Finley said in an interview with Postmedia News.

The EI changes were initially unveiled in May but the government released more information on Thursday, including details around two contentious issues, such as what is considered a “reasonable job search” and “suitable employment.”

Opposition parties insist the federal government’s regulations are far too subjective and that there are no guarantees people who may have transportation or daycare challenges in accepting certain jobs will receive the benefits they are owed.

NDP human resources critic Chris Charlton said the EI reforms are simply about saving money, not about giving unemployed Canadians access to the benefits they rightly deserve.

“This isn’t the government’s money,” Charlton said. “This is not some government slush fund … this is the workers’ money and the government is making it harder and harder for workers to access the benefits that they’ve paid for.”

The new rules will cripple some coastal communities dependent upon seasonal industries, she argued. Businesses will be unable to find the necessary workers during the busy season because employees they would normally hire will be forced to take jobs elsewhere during the months seasonal industries shut down.