Interesting chart here:
http://davidwcampbell.com/?p=4763
EI Payments (total) by Province – Per Capita (2009)
Canada
$580.4
Newfoundland and Labrador
$1,916.9
Prince Edward Island
$1,509.2
Nova Scotia
$822.4
New Brunswick
$1,111.9
Quebec
$698.2
Ontario
$506.4
Manitoba
$374.9
Saskatchewan
$388.7
Alberta
$445.3
British Columbia
$478.1
Source: Statistics Canada CANSIM Table Table 111-0007.
It seems that from Quebec west EI is seen as insurance, in the Maritimes it is a regular part of your income stream.