Restaurants Canada is expanding with the opening of our Ottawa office!

September 2, 2025 Share on your social channels

As a busy summer season winds down, the team has been actively laying the groundwork for a high-impact fall. Following a fast-paced summer lobbying focused on key advocacy priorities — including trade and retaliatory tariff issues, our Food Tax Fairness Campaign, and ongoing immigration challenges — our efforts continue to gain momentum regionally and in the nation’s capital.

We’re thrilled to share that Restaurants Canada is expanding its federal presence with the opening of a satellite office in Ottawa this October. While our Toronto headquarters remains our central hub, the Ottawa office will enhance our ability to engage directly with federal decision-makers and strengthen our voice on Parliament Hill.

The office will be led by Richard Alexander, Executive Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs, supported by senior staff focused on federal affairs and policy. It will also serve as a base for leadership visits and direct engagement with Ottawa-based members and policymakers.

As recently announced, we’re also thrilled to welcome Marie-Pier Richard as our new Vice President, Quebec, effective September 15, 2025. Marie-Pier will lead our advocacy efforts in the province and play a key role in advancing our strategic priorities in Quebec.

Stay tuned for exciting updates in the coming months — including the official launch of our Ottawa office, new team additions to strengthen our national advocacy, and more tools, research, and insights to support your business. The July REACT survey results are also now available.

It’s that time of year again — our Annual Foodservice Facts report is launching soon, and with that comes our most sought-after webinar! Registration opens on September 8th.

Upcoming Webinars to Tap Into

Restaurants Canada is committed to supporting the foodservice industry through webinars that address key challenges and drive growth. Thought leadership is essential to future-proofing your business, and we’re here to help.

If you missed our recent webinar, Recruiting & Retaining Today’s Youth Workforce with First Work, we encourage you to watch the recorded session here to learn what’s driving the youth employment gap and how it’s impacting restaurants across Canada, gain valuable research insights on youth workforce behaviour, and get actionable takeaways like proven, youth-friendly hiring and onboarding practices and inclusive approaches that improve recruitment and retention for all young workers.

Don’t miss OTEC’s upcoming Women in Leadership webinar, Speak Up, Stand Out: Advocating for Yourself and Making Your Voice Heard on September 10^th from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (EDT).Sign up now and be sure to share it with your teams. This session equips women with the tools to effectively advocate for themselves in the workplace. Participants will learn to recognize their value, communicate their needs confidently, master negotiation skills for career advancement, and build alliances to amplify their voice and achieve their goals.

LAST CALL – If you’ve been meaning to grab your seat at One Table, now’s the moment. Only a few tickets remain for this one-of-a-kind evening that brings together the leaders, voices, and visionaries shaping Canada’s foodservice and hospitality future.

The team behind it has been working with care and intention to create something truly special—an experience that goes beyond dinner to offer real connection, reflection, and inspiration. I’m particularly excited to celebrate this year’s Restaurants Canada Awards of Excellence winners and hear their unfiltered perspectives on what’s next for our industry. I also can’t wait to see so many of our brightest minds together, in one place.

This isn’t just another event. It’s a table set for the future of our industry. Don’t miss your chance to be part of it. Get your tickets now.

RC Show 2026: Culinary Competition Applications are Open Now

Exciting updates are on the way as the RC Show team prepares our move to The International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, unlocking a bigger footprint and a future-ready experience for our industry. Registration for RC Show 2026 opens in early October, with great hotel rates and Toronto Pearson International Airport just minutes away, making it easier than ever for members from across Canada to attend.

If you have a rising star on your team, now’s the time to encourage them to step onto the RC Show stage. Applications are now open for the Garland Canada Culinary Competition, the Restaurants Canada Pizza Competition, and the all-new Great Burger Showdown. Later this month, entries open for the John Bil Oyster Shucking Competition—including a brand-new amateur category—along with the Beyond the Rail Cocktail Competition and the Latte Art Competition.

These live competitions are a powerful platform for emerging talent to test their skills, build experience, and gain industry recognition and one of my personal favourite experiences of the RC Show! Helping rising talent reach new heights in their career isn’t just rewarding—it’s one of the most important ways we can strengthen and shape the future of our industry.

Visit RCShow.com to learn more.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE

From Richard Alexander | Executive Vice-President, Government Relations & Public Affairs

Counter-tariffs Removed — A Major Win for Our Industry

On Friday, August 22, the federal government announced that Canada’s counter-tariffs on most goods — especially food imported from the U.S. — will be removed effective September 1, 2025.

This is a major victory for our industry. Restaurants Canada has been relentless on this file, meeting with the Minister of Finance, the Minister responsible for Canada–U.S. Trade, the Secretary of State for Small Business, and senior officials across government. Working together with our partners at FHCP and CPMA, we made sure Ottawa heard one clear message: the restaurant industry could not absorb these costs any longer.

The results speak for themselves. Counter-tariffs were adding over $100 million in extra costs every month to foodservice businesses. Many of the products targeted were not available from Canadian suppliers or other markets, leaving our members with no alternatives. Lifting these tariffs removes a crushing financial burden and helps protect the viability of restaurants across the country.

We’re not done. We are now pressing government to return the hundreds of millions collected in tariff revenue to our industry. As I said in a meeting last week in Ottawa:

“Our industry has dealt with the impact of these counter-tariffs since March, and it would be unconscionable not to return that revenue to those who bore the cost.”

We are also seeking immediate clarity on how this change will affect the automatic remissions process under CBSA Customs Notice 25-19, and whether retroactive relief will be provided. We will share updates with you as soon as we have them.

The Fight for Food Fairness Continues

The removal of counter-tariffs is a huge win — but our work continues. Next, we are turning up the heat on our “Food is Food” campaign to permanently remove the GST from restaurant meals.

Momentum is building: Over 3,700 Canadians have already signed our petition at foodisfood.ca.
Media impact: Since the start of the summer, we’ve delivered 35 interviews and 393 media hits, keeping this issue in the national spotlight.
Political support: Our team has been meeting MPs in their ridings, securing champions for this cause from both sides of the aisle.
Communications push: Jess Landesman and our communications team produced a series of successful videos — one of them has already reached 8,000+ views and is driving petition signatures. View it here.

In the coming weeks, you’ll see more media buys, more political engagement, and more Canadians joining our call to stop taxing restaurant food.

Join the campaign, sign the petition, and share it with your networks: www.foodisfood.ca.

Bottom line for members: Counter-tariffs are gone, but we’re keeping the pressure on Ottawa to deliver fairness for foodservice — and relief for your bottom line.

SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE

From Jillian Rodak | Vice President, Sustainability

Gatineau Commercial Waste and Single-Use Items Bylaws Update

In early August, Restaurants Canada met with the City of Gatineau to discuss its two proposed bylaws:

Commercial Waste Recycling and Composting Bylaw: This proposed bylaw would require mandatory recycling and composting for the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) sectors. Restaurants Canada confirmed that to comply, businesses must register with the municipal service or contract private providers and provide proof of compliance to the City, with responsibility of proof proposed to be from building owners. The proposed bylaw is expected to be brought to City Council for a vote on September 16, with a “tolerance period” until April 2026 (e.g., a transition period during which enforcement will be phased in to allow time for obligated businesses to adjust to the new requirements).

We have requested meetings with City Council members ahead of the September 16 council meeting in order to provide member perspectives on the proposed bylaw. We will continue to provide members with guidance on obligations as more information becomes available.

Single-Use Plastics Bylaw: The City is developing a bylaw to ban the sale and distribution of single-use plastic items and would consider implementing reusable tableware requirements and eco-fees at a future date. We have confirmed that this draft regulation has been postponed to Winter 2026.

New Reusable Container Standards Released

On August 12^th, the CSA Group and PR3 released a new voluntary standard on reuse: RES-002:25/CSA R303:25, Reusable Packaging System Design Standard: Container Washing, Inspection, and Packing for Distribution. The standard sets out requirements for washing, inspecting, and redistributing reusable packaging—primarily consumer-facing packaging, but potentially also be applied to foodware items like plates and utensils.

This standard is the first in a planned series of six bi-national (Canada–U.S.) reuse standards the CSA Group and PR3 expect to finalize by the end of 2026. While voluntary, these standards could be referenced in future regulations by any level of government. We will continue to monitor upcoming releases and any government adoption of the standards, and we plan to invite the CSA Group to present at a future Sustainability Committee meeting.

ATLANTIC UPDATE

From Janick Cormier | Vice-President, Atlantic Canada

New Brunswick

Last week in Moncton, following the cabinet caucus meeting, I had the opportunity to connect with several ministers. I met with Small Business Minister Luke Randall to share an update on the state of New Brunswick’s foodservice industry and to reiterate the need for a larger, simpler licensee discount. I also spoke with Minister of Local Government Aaron Kennedy to urge consultation with the business community on the new property tax system, emphasizing that our sector cannot absorb further cost increases. Finally, I had a brief exchange with Premier Holt, who inquired about the industry’s outlook. I expressed our disappointment that foodservice operators are still unable to access foreign labour through PNP and AIP.

A reminder that we are looking for additional restaurant partners for the training and matching pilot program that we’re working on in conjunction with WorkingNB and CCNB. If you’d like to participate, please reach out to me!

Newfoundland and Labrador

The government of Newfoundland and Labrador has announced details on financial assistance and supports available for businesses evacuated due to wildfires.

The announced business support is as follows:

One-time Evacuation Business Stipend to support eligible businesses based on the number of employees:
- $1,500 for businesses with two to nine employees.
Flexibility for wage subsidies:
- Employers operating in Conception Bay North or who have employees who live in the region, will be eligible to receive up to 42 weeks of wage subsidy. This is an increase from the 28 subsidized weeks.
- Employers may be approved to hire more than one impacted individual at a time.
- Employers may fill existing vacant positions with an impacted individual.
Meeting spaces will also be open and available at Employment Centres for impacted businesses.
- $2,500 for businesses with 10 to 99 employees.

There is also support for employees:

The Work Supports Program allocation is being increased from $1,000 per person to $2,000 per person. This increase will help support the replacement of work tools, equipment and attire, and other eligible costs associated with returning to or maintaining employment. The program is now extended to include self-employed individuals seeking to restart their operations.
The Job Creation Partnerships Program will reopen to accept applications focused on wildfire impacted regions, with an emphasis on community remediation, forestry and silviculture activities.

My thoughts are with all those displaced and impacted by these devastating wildfires around Atlantic Canada.

CENTRAL CANADA UPDATE

From Kris Barnier | Vice President, Central Canada and the North

Manitoba: Taste of Manitoba

This past week I had the pleasure of volunteering with MRFA at its incredible Taste of Manitoba event. The five-day event was a fantastic celebration of Manitoba-made cuisine that featured exceptional food creations from many of the province’s best and most iconic independent restaurant brands. The event was well attended by patrons who got to enjoy great food, beverages, music and fun.

It was also great to see many provincial and municipal elected officials out at the event, which gave us the opportunity to showcase our industry to them and to engage with them on issues of importance to Manitoba’s foodservices businesses. I thank and congratulate Shaun Jeffrey, CEO of MRFA, and his board and team for putting on an exceptional and memorable event that was great for the industry and all guests.

Manitoba: PCs win Spruce Woods by-election

Colleen Robbins, PC candidate, is the presumptive winner, with 2,805 votes to New Democrat Ray Berthelette’s 2,735 — a razor-thin margin of only 70 votes. The outcome of this by-election in this traditionally PC-held riding does not change the balance of power in the Legislature.

Manitoba: Back to Business

During the provincial election, the government’s ability to make announcements on policy and spending were put on hold. Now that the election is over, we’ll be looking out for announcements of importance to our industry to resume. As shared previously, we anticipate that we’ll hear more about the Business Security Rebate program this Fall.

Ontario: Alcohol Transformation

Earlier this year, Restaurants Canada successfully lobbied the Ontario government to increase the LCBO discount for restaurants and bars. Starting in 2026, the LCBO will also become the wholesaler of beer for licensed establishments. The government is still finalizing key details, including pricing structures, delivery systems, and other logistics.

We remain actively engaged with both the LCBO and the Ontario government on these and related matters and will continue to advocate on your behalf. In the weeks and months ahead, we expect further updates on the future of alcohol sales in Ontario—particularly as they impact our industry. We will also continue working closely with the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association to champion outcomes that benefit and protect your business.

Ontario: LCBO Survey

You may have received a survey from the LCBO requesting input on a range of items. We encourage you to complete it on behalf of your business. Restaurants Canada will also be submitting a response, developed in collaboration with our Ontario Sub-Committee on Alcohol.

Ontario: Staying Engaged on Key Issues

For Ontario, Restaurants Canada remains focused on key priorities like public safety, labour stability, and additional factors that impact your operations and safety. In the coming weeks we will share our Pre-Budget document, which will outline our priorities and asks of government for the months ahead.

WESTERN UPDATE

From Mark von Schellwitz | Vice-President, Western Canada

Alberta General Holiday Flexibility Consultation

Premier Smith has directed the Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration to develop legislation that would give Alberta’s cultural communities greater flexibility to observe major holidays—without creating undue hardship or expense for employers. Restaurants Canada has been invited to provide feedback on the proposal, and members are encouraged to complete a brief 10 to 15-minute online survey before the September 22 deadline and provide feedback on the issue to Restaurants Canada. Your input will help inform our official submission.

Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant Registration

Following the recent announcement of the new Canada–Alberta Productivity Grant (CAPG)—which replaces the former Canada–Alberta Job Grant program—interested members can now register as eligible employers ahead of the application intake period in September.

As a reminder, this new program is designed to help businesses increase efficiency and drive innovation, while equipping Albertans with the skills needed to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy. The Alberta government will provide 50% of total eligible training costs, up to $5,000 per trained employee per year. For employers hiring and training an unemployed Albertan, support increases to 75% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $10,000 per employee per year. Each employer may receive up to $100,000 in grant funding annually.

The Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant (CAPG) portal is now open for business registration. This will allow you to confirm your company’s eligibility prior to submitting a CAPG application when formal application intake launches in September.

Follow these steps:

Visit the CAPG website- www.alberta.ca/CAPG.
Read the “Get ready to apply” section.
Log in to the CAPG portal using your Alberta.ca Account for Organizations.
Register your business in the CAPG portal.
Wait to receive an approval email or check the portal for a registration status update.

For more information on the program, eligibility and how to register for online information sessions or register your business, visit: https://www.alberta.ca/canada-alberta-productivity-grant . Additional questions can be directed to jobgrant@gov.ab.ca.

NEXT Foodservice & Hospitality Expo

Alberta members are invited to attend the NEXT Foodservice & Hospitality Expo taking place on September 8^th and 9^th at the BMO Centre in Calgary. Restaurants Canada will be providing a state of the industry presentation during the event. For more information and tickets members can visit www.nextfoodexpo.com.

BC: 27 Week Unpaid Protected Medical Leave Consultation

The Ministry of Labour asked Restaurants Canada to provide feedback on a proposed 27-week unpaid job protected leave period that aligns with other provinces and federal Employment Insurance sickness benefits which were increased in 2022. The Ministry of Labour prepared an Engagement Paper discussing the rationale for the proposed leave. In response to the Engagement Paper, on August 14, Restaurants Canada sent a submission supporting the proposed 27-week unpaid protected job leave policy in principle, while making four recommendations on eligibility criteria to ensure safeguards are in place and to reduce scheduling complications for restaurant businesses.

BC: Liquor to Go Consultation

The BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulatory Branch (LCRB) reached out to Restaurants Canada and other liquor stakeholders for input on the province’s Liquor to Go policy, which was made permanent in 2021. The LCRB developed an Engagement Paper, asking a number of questions on possible changes to the policy. After discussing the issue with members, Restaurants Canada sees no need for Liquor to Go policy changes and sent an August 6^th submission confirming that adding further restrictions to the policy will only add confusion and additional regulatory burden that could lead to more, not less, Liquor to Go compliance issues.

WorkSafe BC Gratuity Policy Directive Update

Following information sessions held in June, Restaurants Canada and BCRFA reached out to other gratuity policy stakeholders who had participated in the WorkSafe BC gratuity policy information sessions. We are pleased that the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has joined us in voicing their opposition to the policy. A survey of their members indicated that 72 per cent of their members were unaware of the policy until recently, and 76 per cent said it would negatively impact them.

We also reached out to the Beauty Council, whose members were similarly unaware of the policy—adding to the operational challenges already faced by hairdressers, barbers and aestheticians. Since the June information sessions, WorkSafeBC has acknowledged receiving significant negative feedback from businesses that took the time to share their concerns.

On August 14, the BCRFA, Restaurants Canada, and a coalition of business and sector associations representing gratuity-earning employees signed a joint letter to WorkSafeBC. The letter reiterated the call for the gratuity policy to be withdrawn and urged WorkSafeBC to suspend inspection audits, penalties, and reassessments issued to businesses found non-compliant over the past two years.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to advancing the foodservice industry. We look forward to a successful fall season and to continuing our work in championing vibrant, thriving foodservice communities across Canada.

With gratitude,