The Midtrail Motel, where Chéticamp’s Lorraine Muise works as a chambermaid, is closing this season. It’s a decision that will affect her the rest of the year, since Muise won’t be able to work enough hours to collect employment insurance (EI) in the winter. After unsuccessfully looking for work elsewhere, she’s asking the government to amend the rules.

Muise won’t be the only one needing an EI extension. Although only 4% of tourism businesses in Cape Breton will be closing this year, those that open will have their staff reduced by 35 to 40%, according to a recent survey by Destination Cape Breton.

Muise said she will be applying to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) as soon as her EI runs out, but the federal government hasn’t announced plans to extend the benefit beyond October 2020. “I may have to leave my house and go to my sister’s in Pleasant Bay,” Muise said. “The government is going to have to do something for people to be able to stay in their own homes.”

Terry Smith, from Destination Cape Breton, said that government officials are aware of the gap affecting seasonal workers. “We know it’s a concern that’s been raised with our MPs and that they have brought forward as well,” he said, “so we expect something will be done to help workers who might not be able to get enough insurable earnings so that they can get EI over the next winter. But nothing has been announced, so we’re still pushing for something.”

Cape Breton-Canso MP Mike Kelloway said his office has been advocating for an EI extension, too. “The recommendations we’ve put forward to the cabinet is to look at something similar to what we did with fishers,” he said. “I think as we move into the summer season, I think we’ll see a couple of things … movement on the seasonal workers in terms of EI, and I think you’ll see the Canada Wage Subsidy, which is slated to close on August 28, I think you’ll see that evolve.”

Already delayed by more than a month, the tourism sector is preparing to open this year’s season in July.