Attempts by the Harper government to set the record straight over recent changes to EI simply gloss over many valid concerns that have been expressed by critics. I share a couple of EI Change Fact-Busters in solidarity with upcoming rallies on EI that will be taking place across Canada this weekend.

Minister Finley states: "No one will have to take a job that puts them in a worse financial position than collecting EI alone."

Fact: The majority of EI claimants will have to accept 20-30 per cent lower wages, outside their usual profession, after only 6 weeks of job search.

Thousands protest EI reforms

Thousands of people turned out to rallies last Saturday in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick to protest the Harper government's reforms to employment insurance.

Federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair announced he's taking on the fight to reverse the EI reforms, as well as the invasive new practice of randomly sending fraud investigators to claimants' homes.

The House got back to work on Monday and the Government found itself challenged all at once by First Nations, refugees, people who get Employment Insurance (EI), and -- yes -- those well-entitled Senators. 

To start with, the EI story. 

Mainstream media outlets in Canada are not in the habit of calling ministers of the crown liars.

But that's what Montreal's Le Devoir did on Monday.

It said Human Resources Minister Diane Finley had lied when she told Parliament that Employment Insurance inspectors did not have quotas, somewhat like traffic cops.