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CEO Notes

Essential updates on national and regional industry news, strategic priorities, and advocacy efforts from Kelly Higginson, Restaurants Canada President & CEO. 

For media inquiries, please contact media@restaurantscanada.org

CEO Notes

TFW Cap Expansion: A Step Forward for Rural Operators

And that’s a wrap on another RC Show! We want to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who participated, attended, spoke, sponsored, and presented. To those who entered competitions and to all who left with new insights, products to explore, and fresh inspiration—thank you.  RC Show…

CEO Notes

Important Update – TFWs and Permanent Residency

The federal government has begun to accelerate the transition of up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residency in 2026 and 2027. This program was announced in Budget 2025 in November, but little more had been heard about actioning the…

CEO Notes

It’s RC Show-time!

We’re just days away from RC Show 2026! This year’s overarching theme, “Into the Beyond,” challenges us to leave behind outdated practices and rethink the future of foodservice and hospitality.  As seismic shifts reshape our industry, the question is: Are we ready to move beyond…

CEO Notes

The latest trends and insights for your business.

This has been another productive month for the RC team and we are so excited to share our latest initiatives with you.  Read the Q4 Quarterly report  Earlier this month, we released our Q4 2025 Quarterly report, covering the latest trends and insights on the foodservice industry….

CEO Notes

Affordability Front and Centre in RC’s National Media Coverage

I was pleased to visit Vancouver in late January to send off Western Canada VP Mark von Schellwitz into retirement. I took the opportunity to meet with a number of members while in town, including at our members’ reception, and chat about the current climate, their challenges and needs. I was thrilled to see a…

CEO Notes

Today’s food affordability announcement by the federal government

Earlier today, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a package of affordability measures to assist low- and middle-income Canadians with the escalating cost of food and other essentials. Central to the announcement is a 25% increase to the GST credit for five years…

CEO Notes

Workforce challenges are growing and here’s how we’re responding

Happy New Year! The Restaurants Canada team is hitting the ground running now that 2026 is underway.  Last week, Restaurants Canada was active in national media following the release of new analysis by Professor Sylvain Charlebois which projects a net decline of approximately…

CEO Notes

A year of challenge, strength and resilience for Canada’s foodservice sector.

As I reflect on the past year, I am struck by the extraordinary resilience of our sector and by the determination, creativity, and resourcefulness you demonstrate every single day. What restaurant and foodservice operators across Canada have endured and achieved…

CEO Notes

Addressing rising food costs and navigating immigration changes

As we near the end of the year, the Restaurants Canada team has been fully engaged in Ottawa and across the country to ensure your voice is heard.  Food inflation and internal trade barriers   Food inflation continues to outpace the rate of general inflation. Restaurants…

CEO Notes

New dashboard unlocked: Bite-Sized Weekly Restaurant Trends

As we enter the busiest time of year for our industry, I want to take a moment to remind you that Restaurants Canada is here to support you and your teams. Our advocacy work on issues like access to labour,…