The Restaurants Canada Awards of Excellence nominations are now open!
Nominations Now Open for the Restaurants Canada Awards of Excellence! This is your call to action!
The Restaurants Canada Awards of Excellence nominations are now open! These peer-nominated awards celebrate the outstanding leaders, creatives, and organizations shaping Canada’s hospitality and foodservice industry—many of whom are in your network and community. Kindly consider sharing this opportunity to help us recognize and showcase the very best in our industry. Thank you for helping us celebrate excellence!
NOMINATE deserving industry leader/s, today!
Nominations close on July 18 at 11:59 PM EDT
Award winners will be announced at our celebration of industry and awards night on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. More details and information will follow in the coming weeks.
Parliamentary Engagement and GST Campaign
As Parliament resumes, Restaurants Canada has proactively engaged with all Members of Parliament to extend our congratulations and introduce our upcoming key advocacy campaign. All Ministers and Secretaries of State received a congratulations package highlighting our call for the permanent removal of GST on all food. This package included critical data demonstrating the value of this tax reform, along with our latest Quarterly Report and dedicated GST briefing materials. We will be sending more such packages to the MPs of the top 200 foodservice ridings and booking meetings with key Ministers and decision makers in the weeks ahead.
Please see our recent statement on the Prime Minister’s Mandate Letter and the GST/HST two-pager we have developed.
Stay tuned for further updates as our campaign gains momentum.
Hot 10 Restaurant Trends report
In case you missed it, last week we released a report in partnership with Circana LLC on the Hot 10 trends shaping the restaurant industry in 2025. From couponing culture to affordable luxury to the sandwich climbing the most popular menu items chart, you can find valuable data and insights to help you make decisions in the report.
And if you prefer a video format, we’ve got you covered! Check out the Hot 10 Restaurant Trends video and watch report authors Chris Elliott, Restaurants Canada Chief Economist and VP Research, and Vince Sgabellone, Industry Analyst, Food and Foodservice at Circana, talk data while eating increasingly hot dishes.
Resources and supports update
Restaurants Canada remains dedicated to providing tools, resources, and support to help your business succeed. Below, you’ll find information on our upcoming webinars.
Reminder! Register today for our next webinar on tipping with Atlas Tip Management on May 27th at 11:30 EST.
Join Afshin Mousavian, Co-Founder of Atlas and James Rhodes, Principal Lawyer of Taxation Lawyers, for a practical look at how automated tip management is transforming the industry. Hear about updated provincial regulations for tip management and learn how improper tip management can cost operators over $30K per $1M in sales.
Restaurants Canada is thrilled to support OTEC’s Women in Leadership Series: The Balancing Act: Women Navigating Work, Life, and Everything In Between
Own the Room: Cultivating Confidence to Lead as Your Authentic Self
4th June 2025 12:00pm – 1:00pm | Register here.
Speak Up, Stand Out: Advocating for Yourself and Making Your Voice Heard
10th September 2025 12:00pm – 1:00pm | Register here.
Champions for Change: Allyship in Action for a More Inclusive Workplace
10th December 2025 12:00pm – 1:00pm | Register here.
Facilitated by Amrita Bhalla, a seasoned HR executive with over 20 years of global experience and a regular RC Show speaker. Amrita has also been a faculty member at the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism at Toronto Metropolitan University since 2015, teaching HR Management, Strategic Management, and Organizational Behaviour.
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE
From Richard Alexander | Executive Vice-President, Government Relations & Public Affairs
Restaurants Canada’s Welcome to Ottawa Campaign
The moment when MPs return to the hill represents a vital opportunity to introduce/reintroduce our industry. Dozens of new MPs are heading to Ottawa—many for the first time—while returning members may find themselves in new roles or responsibilities within caucus or Cabinet.
We have launched a Welcome to Ottawa Campaign for MPs that will run for the next several weeks and the creation of a Restaurant Caucus is planned for the fall. Here is a little peak at the campaign.
We are developing a framed poster for our top 50 priority MPs (those with the ridings generating the largest restaurant revenue in the country) and Ministers.
Each poster will feature localized data including number of restaurants, jobs supported, and economic output in the MP’s riding. It will also include a personalized note affixed to the back of the frame. Posters will be hand-delivered. The goal is to highlight the value of the industry to those MPs and have them display the framed poster in their offices. It will be one of many efforts to secure champions for our industry.
Prime Minister Carney will receive a similar poster with the Canadian perspective.
For MPs outside of the top 50, a high-quality booklet will be developed and distributed with similar information.
A full court press on Ministries and top MPs will occur in June to introduce ourselves and push for our asks.
The Poutine Caucus
Several years ago, Restaurants Canada had a Restaurant Caucus—a group of MPs that would be asked to participate in events and discussions about the industry and advocate on the industry’s behalf. It is reported to have been very successful. A tightening of the rules for lobbyists at the federal level meant many of the activities of the Caucus could no longer continue and the Restaurant Caucus was disbanded.
Discussions over the winter with the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada provides Restaurants Canada with an opportunity to reestablish the Restaurant Caucus within the lobbyist regulations. The GR team sees good value in reestablishing a restaurant caucus which we are affectionally calling the Poutine Caucus. Restaurants Canada will take precautions not to violate any of the rules and will have events cleared by the Commissioner.
The top 50 MPs will be asked/lobbied to join the caucus although all MPs must be invited. Our PM will be given an honourable membership to represent the riding of Canada.
The first event is being planned for September when the House returns and is designed to be a fun activity that will help build support and awareness – we need champions. Media will be invited, and the event will be shared on our socials.
The event will be followed up with meetings with participating MPs.
A reminder to watch for our Food Tax Fairness Campaign and amplify our socials.
SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE
From Jillian Rodak | Vice President, Sustainability
New Federal Minister of the Environment
On May 13th, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his new cabinet. Julie Dabrusin has been appointed as the new Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Dabrusin previously served as the Parliamentary Secretary for this portfolio, so she brings an existing foundation to the role as she steps into the file at a pivotal time, with several key regulatory and policy initiatives related to plastics reduction, PFAS, and greenwashing. At the same time, the awaited Federal Court of Appeal decision on single-use plastics could influence future policy direction.
Restaurants Canada is closely monitoring for the release of Minister Dabrusin’s mandate letter and any announcements regarding political staff. Once confirmed, we will introduce ourselves to her office and begin engaging on the industry’s sustainability priorities.
City of Edmonton Developing ICI Waste Roadmap
The City of Edmonton is currently in the process of developing a four-year roadmap to address industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) waste. Restaurants Canada met with City staff to share our industry’s perspective and ensure the operational realities of restaurants are considered. During the meeting, we emphasized the need for harmonization, data-based decision-making, practical, cost-effective waste solutions and the importance of industry involvement throughout the roadmap’s development. The City is expected to launch another round of stakeholder engagement in fall 2025, with a final plan anticipated to go before City Council in spring 2026.
As commercial and food waste continue to be an emerging issue across multiple jurisdictions in Canada, Restaurants Canada will remain engaged with governments at all levels to ensure the industry’s perspectives are reflected, given the potential implications for the foodservice sector.
FEDERAL & QUEBEC UPDATE
ATLANTIC UPDATE
From Janick Cormier | Vice-President, Atlantic Canada
Prince Edward Island
You may have heard reports of a local operator being fined and a server being barred from serving alcohol because a family with minors were not out of the restaurant before live entertainment began. Although this incident is incredibly unfortunate and unfair, this is leading to a new push to modernize the Liquor Control Act in the province.
Restaurants Canada was encouraged to hear Minister Burridge state that the government is looking at modernizing the Act to bring it more in line with the realities of today. We hope to work with government on this initiative and to deliver positive results for members.
New Brunswick
Access to foreign workers remains a top priority for me. You may have seen our statement in support of the province asking the federal government to be exempted from the 50% cuts to immigration. We were able to get quite a bit of media pick-up and will continue to be loud on this issue until we see results.
I encourage members to engage with their local MLAs and MPs on this issue. The reality is our industry is already facing labour shortages as we have over 1,500 vacant positions in the province. This number will continue to grow as foreign workers return home.
I’ve also been in conversations with TAINB and WorkingNB for some sort of pilot project to help with the labour shortage in the hospitality/tourism industry. The government recognizes that the tourism product of the province is at risk since our employers aren’t able to find employees and has identified our industry as a sector for which solutions are urgently needed. We’re very much at the exploratory stage. Although I find it encouraging that the government is pursuing solutions, I know that without access to foreign workers, we won’t ever be able to bridge the gap.
If you have ideas you’d like to share on how we could recruit within the existing population in NB, don’t hesitate to reach out to me!
Newfoundland and Labrador
Last week, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Minister of Jobs, Immigration and Growth, Gerry Byrne, announced an investment of $208,380 towards a digital training program for front of house restaurant staff developed by Restaurant Canada’s former Chair of the Board, Jeremy Bonia, Jay Vallis and a few other restaurant owners.
Training constitutes a significant cost for many restaurants, and this initiative is meant to alleviate financial pressures while strengthening the quality of service in the food and beverage industry.
This new tool will be free of charge for operators in Newfoundland and Labrador and will be available as of June 10th.
Those interested in registering for the training program can contact morethanservicenl@gmail.com for more information.
CENTRAL CANADA UPDATE
From Kris Barnier | Vice President, Central Canada and the North
Manitoba and Ontario land agreement to knock down interprovincial trade barriers
Earlier this year, Restaurants Canada wrote to both Premiers Kinew and Ford to urge their leadership in knocking down interprovincial trade barriers that take money out of the pockets of consumers and drive up the costs of doing business in our country. Among items, the agreement speaks to labour mobility and direct-to-consumer sales on alcohol.
See the Manitoba Government Release here. | See the Ontario Government Release here.
Ontario: IT’S HERE! IT’S HERE! DEEPER LCBO DISCOUNT
Effective today, the 15% discount for restaurants and bars is in effect at LCBO retail stores and at wholesale.lcbo.com. The discount will remain in place until December 31, 2025. The Government is planning to implement a new wholesale pricing regime in 2026, and Restaurants Canada is actively engaged in those discussions.
The initial 10% discount was implemented by the Ford Government, led by Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, in 2022, followed by strong advocacy from Restaurants Canada. Kelly and I were proud to stand beside Minister Bethlenfalvy when he first announced the new rate was coming earlier this year, a promise that was repeated by the Minister and Premier Ford during their visit to the RC Show.
Ontario budget spells relief for restaurants and foodservice sector
The recent provincial budget includes a series of new and reaffirmed announcements that help the foodservice and other industries, while also delivering relief to consumers. For a recap, please see my recent member update here.
Manitoba: Security rebate update
MRFA CEO Shaun Jeffrey and I recently met with the Kinew government to discuss next steps for the Business Security Rebate Program. The Government allocated $10M for the Program as part of Budget 2025, and we anticipate it will announce details in the coming months. MRFA and Restaurants Canada have urged the government to carve out a significant portion of the funding specifically for foodservice businesses. We have put forward a strong case for why our industry should have a unique program that is responsive to the realities and key challenges facing our sector.
WESTERN UPDATE
From Mark von Schellwitz | Vice-President, Western Canada
Alberta Cabinet Shuffle
On May 16th Alberta Premier Smith announced a Cabinet shuffle following the resignation of Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver to become the new Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The shuffle impacts a few Ministers Restaurants Canada has been working closely with.
Members will be interested to know that former Jobs, Economy and Trade Minister, Matt Jones is now Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services. The new Jobs, Economy, Trade, and Immigration Minister is Minister Joseph Schow who was the previous Tourism and Sport Minister. Minister Schow’s new Jobs, Economy, and Trade Ministry now also includes Immigration. Promoted to Cabinet as the new Tourism and Sports Minister is Drayton Valley Devon MLA Andrew Boitchenko. The previous Immigration Minister Muhammad Yassen becomes Associate Minister of Multiculturalism.
Restaurants Canada enjoyed a good working relationship with the above mentioned Ministers and wishes them the best of luck in their new portfolios. We also congratulate the new Tourism and Sports Minister Boitchenko on his promotion to the Cabinet.
BCRFA and Restaurants Canada Issue Press Release on WorkSafe BC’ Gratuity Policy
For over a year both BCRFA and Restaurants Canada have been meeting with WorkSafe BC, Labour Ministry staff, and multiple Ministers asking that WorkSafe BC pause their controversial gratuity policy directive to treat all verifiable tips as assessed payroll. This directive forces restaurants to choose whether they comply with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) direct tipping policy which considers credit card tips that are paid out after every shift to be direct tips that should not be reflected on company payroll records, or comply with WorkSafe BC’s policy treating all POS credit card gratuities as controlled gratuities that need to be recorded and included as assessed payroll.
Despite numerous assurances that WorkSafe BC would be pausing their gratuity policy directive and implementing an industry consultation before proceeding, we have learned of recent cases where inspectors continue to audit and surcharge restaurants using the confusing and contradictory gratuity policy directive. As there was no consultation or notice given to industry, restaurants audited by WorkSafe BC were surprised to learn about the new policy and upset with the unfair fines and additional assessed payroll costs resulting from gratuity audits.
After another recent lengthy and frustrating meeting with WorkSafe BC both BCRFA and Restaurants Canada decided it was time to bring the issue to the public’s attention. On May 22nd BCRFA and Restaurants Canada issued the following press release urging the agency to pause and reassess their gratuity policy which has cost audited BC members thousands of dollars in fines and additional reassessed payroll costs.
With gratitude,
Kelly Higginson
