EI while starting a business?

19M currently working as a masonry apprentice but because of an unfortunate joint disorder causing immense pain while working Im unable to continue on through my apprenticeship.

I’ve been saving and slowly buying equipment to start my own business in a different lighter trade that I also have a good amount of experience in.

Im wondering if my employers lay me off so that I can collect EI would I be able to stay on EI until I’m able to start paying myself a wage from my company? Considering contractors usually take 1-3 months until paying you I’d be without income for a while and I just want to make sure I can cover my personal and business expenses long enough to survive.