Lesiuk filed her challenge after being denied benefits because she was 33 hours short of qualifying. The denial forced her to return to work six weeks after giving birth by caesarean section. She had to cash in RRSP savings to make ends meet. In the 1997 federal election, Atlantic fishermen vented their frustration by voting numerous Liberal candidates out of office after Ottawa cut seasonal benefits and tightened eligibility requirements for EI, Clancy noted. As a result, Ottawa reversed the changes prior to the 2000 federal election and Liberal candidates again swept eastern Canada.
Women make up a majority of the Canadian population.