While politicians battled in the House of Commons on Wednesday about employment insurance, residents in northern Cape Breton are being affected.

Local business operators say if the government doesn't do something soon they will have to close their doors.

Businesses in northern Cape Breton are finding it harder to do business. (CBC)

In Bay St. Lawrence residents feel they are being targeted by the federal government over their EI benefits after 58 people had their EI claims denied.

"What do they expect people to do, they have to live," said Municipal Councillor Johnnie Buchanan. "It's fine when you are sitting in a big office on your derriere and you don't know what our culture is like here and what we need to survive."

With a lot less EI money flowing into the community local businesses are bracing for the worst

"I had to lay off one of our cashiers three weeks earlier than expected," said Deanna Marie Bonnar, manager of the Central Co-op. "Just the lack of sales, no one has any money."

Bonnar said if the government doesn't act quickly to solve the EI problems, local businesses will not survive.

"There is no way we can stay open all winter without no one supporting it and that's all this community has is EI," said Bonnar. "In the winter there's nothing else here."

At the local credit union, customers' concerns are the same. With no EI, people can't afford payments.

"I have three kids at home, a trailer that's got to be paid for," said Rocky Buchanan.

Buchanan fillets fish to feed his family. He says the government has its sights set on Bay St. Lawrence and their EI benefits.

"They must be trying to wipe us out. It's the only thing I can figure, make everybody move," said Buchanan.

While residents appeal their denied EI claims, they'll sit and wait for a government decision they hope won't change their way of life.