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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

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Advocating for Restaurants – Trade Barriers, Tariffs, B.C. Fires and What’s at Stake

Last month, the U.S. announced it would impose a new round of tariffs on Canadian products, including ones previously protected under CUSMA, on August 19. As the Government of Canada continues discussions with U.S. counterparts ahead of the deadline, the…

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Advancing Your Priorities: Premiers’ Meeting + New Q2 Insights Report 

Last week, I attended the official reception kicking off the annual summer meeting of provincial Premiers in Charlottetown, at the invitation of the host, Premier Rob Lantz—a welcome recognition of the important role Canada’s restaurant industry plays in the national economy. The event provided an excellent opportunity to…

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From Stampede to job growth: Restaurants driving Canada’s economy

I had the opportunity to spend last weekend at the Calgary Stampede, along with Cheryl Muir, Restaurants Canada’s Vice President, Western Canada. I was reminded that behind every iconic Canadian event is a restaurant industry that helps make the experience possible.  Stampede…

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Taking your priorities to policy-makers’ home ridings this summer

While Parliament and provincial legislatures have risen for the summer, the Restaurants Canada team is still hard at work. Our advocacy continues throughout the summer months, using the time for discussions with MPs and members of provincial legislatures in their ridings. The quieter summer months are…

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Restaurants are integral to Canada’s food security

Last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada’s National Food Security Strategy. Restaurants Canada was invited to provide a submission to the federal government to help inform the development of the Strategy, and we are pleased to see several of our recommendations reflected in the…

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Fighting for tax fairness on food

Fighting for tax fairness on food Restaurants Canada’s fight for food tax fairness has heated up over the past few weeks, with “affordability” measures being introduced in three provinces to provide sales tax exemptions on food sold in grocery and…

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Deepening our industry’s advocacy on food security.

Luncheon with the Minister of Finance I participated in an Empire Club of Canada luncheon featuring a keynote address by the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Finance. I had a conversation with the Minister, previewing for him our federal…

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We need your immediate support – Manitoba PST

As you are aware, the Manitoba government has introduced budget implementation legislation that would exempt prepared foods sold in grocery and convenience stores from PST, while continuing to apply the tax to the exact same products sold by restaurants. We…

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Restaurants Are an Economic Powerhouse

I was back in Ottawa recently as part of Restaurants Canada’s regular and ongoing interactions with federal decision-makers, raising our industry’s profile and its importance to the national economy as we push on our advocacy priorities.    Restaurants Canada had a great opportunity to represent our industry in a…

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From Vancouver to Ottawa: Key Advocacy Updates & Priorities 

I recently participated in the Destination Canada NorthStar Tourism CEO Summit in Vancouver, where tourism sector leaders aligned on Canada’s opportunity to capitalize on shifting global travel patterns and the value of the tourism sector to the Canadian economy. The discussion…