Workers in The Maritimes of Canada are upset because of some changes that will be taking place in Canada's "Employment Insurance" [EI] programme. Traditionally workers in The Maritimes have had to work less to qualify and/or have received a longer pay-out. Understandably, unemployment rates in The Maritimes have consistently been higher than elsewhere in Canada.
Why understandably? because [all together now] "People Respond to Incentives."
As has been explained by those protesting the EI revisions,
"It's not people who don't want to work year round, it's simply the jobs are not there,"
One effect of the EI programmes in The Maritimes has been to raise the height of the social safety net there. After all, Canadians are known for being kind, caring, and sharing.
A more serious effect for long-term growth and economic efficiency is that people are induced to stay in The Maritimes rather than move elsewhere, to places where jobs are more plentiful.
But it isn't so much the workers of The Maritimes who benefit from this policy. Rather, it is the land and real estate owners there who benefit. If more people would try to leave The Maritimes and move, say, to Saskatchewan to look for work (or in response to finding work), real estate values in The Maritimes would fall.
Isn't it interesting that protesting workers are trying to defend the vested interests of people who have a stake in the real estate in The Maritimes.