As we entered the week of February 3rd, our team had already spent Sunday analyzing the new tariff announcements and their impacts. This led to urgent discussions with the government and Team Canada on issues such as alcohol being pulled from provincial liquor stores, rising anti-American sentiment, and operators scrambling to adjust menus amid mounting cost concerns. If you missed our tariff statement and member updates, you can find them here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emphasizing the strong integration of our industry with the US is a key topic for discussion with government officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout the week, we engaged extensively with national media, starting with a live CTV appearance on Monday morning. In Ottawa, EVP of Government Affairs Richard Alexander, VP Max Roy and I met with key government officials to discuss tariff impacts, interprovincial trade and regulatory burdens that are adding to our costs and access to consistent products, and the GST holiday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our discussions with Minister Mary Ng\u2019s office and Agriculture Canada officials focused on securing alternative supply options and removing all food from retaliatory tariffs. Executive Vice President, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Richard Alexander goes into more detail below on an upcoming trade mission to Washington with the Canada Chamber of Commerce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With Minister Valdez, we emphasized the importance of consistent and competitive access to supplies such as food grade packaging and produce, retaliatory tariff impacts, the significance of wage subsidies, and the need to extend the GST holiday, which is proving effective incredibly effective across the country. See our press releases further down under Media Outreach<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, while in Ottawa I met with the \u00ab\u00a0Tourism Team Canada,\u00a0\u00bb a coalition of CEOs from the hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors. As economic uncertainties persist, collaboration is essential to strengthen our global competitiveness and ensure long-term growth. Our associations remain committed to advocacy, outreach, and positioning Canada as a top destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Later in the week I was invited to represent the foodservice sector at the Prime Minister\u2019s Canada-U.S. Economic Summit.<\/strong> I joined leaders from key sectors to discuss Canada\u2019s economic needs and priorities in the face of tariff threats from our largest trading partner, the U.S. I emphasized the need to reduce Canada\u2019s heavy regulatory burdens, remove trade barriers, and increase competitiveness. Key takeaways from the discussion included prioritizing food security, reforming trade regulations, supporting and increasing Canadian manufacturing, and leveraging our energy and critical mineral strengths. With current momentum building, it\u2019s essential that we move quickly to secure Canada\u2019s economic future and protect Canadian communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was also thrilled to be a part of the press conference in Ontario to announce a commitment to increase the 10% LCBO discount to 15% with our Vice-President of Central Kris Barnier Canada, Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy and Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney. This major win is a direct result of Restaurants Canada\u2019s lobbying efforts. The PCs also unveiled plans for $3B in payroll tax relief. As a labor-intensive industry, we\u2019ve long argued that cutting payroll taxes helps employers reduce costs and preserve jobs. Please see the update below from Kris Barnier for more details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n To wrap up the week on Thursday, Vice President Max Roy and I met with the Deputy Minister of Labour and Workforce to make a final push on our GST efforts, ongoing tariff discussions, and to address immigration and labour challenges, particularly in remote, rural, and tourism areas. See more details below from Vice President, Federal and Qu\u00e9bec, Max Roy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Late last week we released another impactful press release<\/a> with the strong job growth data reported by Statistics Canada, which shows the GST\/HST holiday is working. The foodservice sector added 34,600 new jobs since November 2024, a 6% increase compared to just 2% for all sectors. Extending the tax holiday boost job security, creates new jobs and bolsters our economic resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Restaurants Canada\u2019s early calculations estimated that the tax holiday would boost restaurant sales nationally by 5% to 7%, adding $1.5 billion over two months. Based on Moneris data<\/a>, we have seen transactions grow by 7 to 8 percentage points in the first six weeks of the tax holiday, compared to the three weeks before it started. Restaurants Canada is urging the federal government to extend the tax relief until the U.S. tariff dispute is resolved and to pass legislation making prepared food permanently tax-free when Parliament reconvenes. Our advocacy on this issue was covered in an opinion piece<\/a> in the Globe and Mail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n U.S. Tariffs & Canadian Retaliatory Measures webinar<\/strong> — DATE:<\/strong>\u00a0February 18, 2025 | 11:00 AM ET.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The 30-day pause on U.S.-led tariffs offers a brief but crucial opportunity for our industry to evaluate supply chains, pricing, and market position. As Canada-U.S. negotiations unfold, how can your business prepare for trade shifts, new tariffs, and potential retaliation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Join our 2nd<\/sup> webinar with Ann Penner (Wellington Advocacy), Chad Moutray (National Restaurant Association) and Kenn Jordan (KPMG) as they discuss the latest trade updates, their impact on food costs, and key steps to safeguard your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We will keep you informed as the tariff situation develops. Visit our FAQ page<\/a> for resources to support our industry during this uncertain time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was excited about the success of our first round of Regional Townhall events<\/a> last week. Thank you to everyone who attended and stay tuned for next quarter\u2019s dates. These events provide valuable opportunities for members to hear from Chief Economist and Vice President, Research, Chris Elliott, our federal government relations team, and connect with our regional VPs for updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With that it is onto our next engagement and connection initiative!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m thrilled to introduce dish.<\/em>, Restaurants Canada’s new content and event series dedicated to championing and elevating women in leadership<\/strong>\u2014and those on their way there. We are committed to fostering connections, sparking conversations, and celebrating the value created by incredible women in foodservice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The results speak for themselves: women drive innovation, bring fresh perspectives, and play a critical role in shaping workplace culture. Yet, they remain underrepresented in leadership in most industries, including our own. By creating opportunities for women to connect, collaborate and build strong networks, we\u2019re not just advancing individual careers\u2014we\u2019re strengthening the entire industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To kick things off, I\u2019d like to personally <\/strong>invite<\/strong><\/a> women leaders in the GTA to our first dish.<\/em> event on Monday, March 10th, from 9-11 a.m<\/strong>. at Mildred\u2019s Temple Kitchen<\/strong>. For our inaugural event, we are keeping things intimate and focused within the Toronto area to ensure a successful launch but know this will grow and evolve into other markets in the coming year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Join us for a special breakfast as we celebrate International Women\u2019s Day<\/strong> with two inspiring speakers who I know will leave you feeling energized and empowered. It\u2019s an opportunity to step away from the day-to-day, engage with like-minded professionals, and expand your network over an incredible meal, in great company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Space is limited, so be sure to secure your spot<\/a>. I look forward to seeing you there and building something truly impactful together\u2014for the betterment of our industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Restaurants Canada is also proud to support Rendez-vous gourmet Qu\u00e9bec<\/strong>, a private culinary trade show for chefs, food buyers, and professionals, which will be held in Vancouver on February 24 this year. As a long-time partner, we’ve supported several editions of this event in Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver. This unique event offers a chance to discover new products and trends from Qu\u00e9bec’s top artisans, including cheeses, deli meats, vegan products, maple items, and more. The Vancouver edition will feature over 400 products from 24 vendors representing various regions of Qu\u00e9bec. Register here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the industry faces rising costs, shifting consumer expectations, and ongoing labour shortages, a new priority has emerged: we must come together to reshape and fortify Canada\u2019s food system and supply chain for long-term resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this issue, we explore the challenges and opportunities ahead. Mich\u00e8le Boudria, CEO of McDonald\u2019s Canada<\/strong>, shares insights on leadership and mentorship, while new research from The Re-Seasoning Coalition<\/strong> examines the intersection of race and gender in foodservice. We also look at the role of technology and innovation<\/strong> in shaping the future, from AI-driven workforce management to the next evolution of digital ordering. With RC Show<\/strong> approaching, now is the time to connect, collaborate, and lay the groundwork for the industry\u2019s future. Read the latest issue of MENU Magazine – coming to your doorstep or download a digital version here<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n From Richard Alexander | Executive Vice-President, Government Relations & Public Affairs<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The GST\/HST tax holiday on restaurant meals has been a resounding success, delivering a significant boost to our industry. The early results speak for themselves:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are pushing for the government to extend\u2014or permanently implement\u2014the tax holiday<\/strong> based on two key arguments:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving Public and Political Support<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to eliminate this tax for good.<\/strong> Restaurants Canada is going all in to make it happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Restaurants Canada is joining a high-stakes trade mission to Washington on March 4-6,<\/strong> led by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Our agenda includes meetings with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our message is clear: Food is essential and must be exempt from tariffs and counter-tariffs.<\/strong> We will continue to advocate for policies that protect restaurants, food suppliers, and consumers on both sides of the border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now is the time to act. We are committed to ensuring the restaurant industry thrives\u2014despite economic and geopolitical challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From Jillian Rodak | Vice President, Sustainability<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Later this week, Restaurants Canada will be welcoming Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to our Sustainability Committee Meeting to discuss the Federal Plastics Registry<\/a> and its reporting requirements. With the first phase of reporting due by September 29, key details remain unclear as the government has yet to finalize the reporting portal and Excel template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To ensure ECCC is aware of member concerns, we invite you to share any questions with us ahead of the meeting at sustainability@restaurantscanada.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Municipalities across Canada are increasingly developing bylaws to address commercial waste and single-use plastics. For example, Guelph is proposing to expand its existing single-use bylaw<\/a> to include provisions for reusable containers, while Gatineau is considering new single-use and commercial waste regulations<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To ensure the industry has a strong voice at the table, we have been actively engaging with local governments to share our members\u2019 perspectives and recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From Maximilien Roy | Vice-President, Federal & Qu\u00e9bec<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The ongoing threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods remains a serious concern, and Restaurants Canada is actively engaging with the federal government to ensure the foodservice industry\u2019s voice is heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the past week, we have participated in meetings with officials from Finance Canada, the cabinet of the Minister of International Trade, the Minister of Small Business and the Prime Minister\u2019s Office. In these discussions, we emphasized the potential impact of tariffs on our industry and the need for targeted relief measures to help restaurants navigate any economic fallout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve also met with the office of the Minister of Labour, to discuss what the government should do to help Canadians if tariffs are imposed over a long period of time. We\u2019ve focused on the need to keep the link between employers and employees to reduce the recovery time once the tariffs are removed. We expect the government will provide more details on their plan to help Canadians and businesses should the worst scenario occur, but we\u2019re encouraged by the conversations we\u2019ve had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the situation evolves, we will keep you informed on any developments and how they may affect our industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From Janick Cormier | Vice-President, Atlantic Canada<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On February 5th<\/sup>, the government of New Brunswick announced that due to federal cuts in the Provincial Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Program, they would restrict applications to three priority sectors: Health, Education and Construction. This means that two main streams of labour have been closed for our industry. From Kris Barnier | Vice President, Central Canada and the North<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An election will be held on February 27th<\/sup>.<\/strong> Prior to the election, I will share a summary of the relevant commitments made by each of the major parties. Please visit Elections Ontario<\/a> if you need help finding your riding, the eligible candidates, and information on where to vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ontario PCs commit to increase the LCBO discount from 10% to 15% and commit to payroll tax relief. <\/strong>Kelly and I stood beside Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy as he committed to increase the licensee discount an additional 5 percentage points. This commitment comes after intense lobbying from Restaurants Canada and represents a big win for our association and membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We project that for a full-service restaurant with approximately $2M in revenue, it may mean an additional $2,500-$3,500 in savings per year, or $7,500 to $10,000 per year when combined with the 10% discount Restaurants Canada secured in 2022. This represents approximately $110M in savings per year for the industry. This victory builds on other wins we have secured on alcohol from this government, including allowing alcohol sales on delivery\/take out and freezing alcohol escalator taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I sincerely thank the Ontario GR Advisory Committee and our Subcommittee on Alcohol for their hard work and support. We will continue to push for the discount to be extended to include beer in 2026, when LCBO becomes the wholesaler for beer for restaurants and bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Push for making the HST holiday permanent. <\/strong>All of the Regional VPs have been working hard to support our federal push for a permanent HST holiday on restaurant meals. As part of our efforts, Kelly and I recently met with Liberal Toronto-Danforth MP Julie Dabrusin, to talk about the success of the HST holiday and why it should be made permanent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I will be in Winnipeg the week of February 24 <\/strong>for meetings with the Government of Manitoba to continue to advocate on top priorities, including tackling crime, workforce challenges, and alcohol pricing relief. I\u2019ll also be speaking with government representatives about the expected impact of a U.S.-led trade war and supports our industry will require to protect restaurants and jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MRFA Passion for Fare Gala 2025 \u2013 <\/strong>I am looking forward to the MRFA dinner honouring three iconic and highly respected leaders from Manitoba\u2019s foodservices sector. Restaurants Canada proudly congratulates and commends Doug Stephen of Wow Hospitality, Steve Hrousalas of Rae and Jerry\u2019s, and Grod Howard of the Keg Steakhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From Mark von Schellwitz | Vice-President, Western Canada<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.restaurantscanada.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Anatomy-of-a-Burger-CEO-Feb-18-24.png\")
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Media outreach<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Support<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Connection<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Introducing dish.<\/em> Fuel for Women in Food<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMENU Magazine <\/strong>Issue #43 – WINTER 2025 Launches This Week<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nGOVERNMENT RELATIONS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
GST\/HST Holiday Extension: A Game-Changer for Restaurants<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Next Steps: Make the Holiday Permanent<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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U.S. Tariffs and Canadian Counter Tariffs: Protecting Food from Trade Wars<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nSUSTAINABILITY UPDATE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
February Sustainability Committee Meeting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ongoing Municipal Bylaw Engagement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nFEDERAL UPDATE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
U.S. Tariff Threats \u2013 Restaurants Canada Advocating for Industry Support<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nATLANTIC UPDATE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
New Brunswick<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On February 13th<\/sup>, we met with immigration minister, Jean-Claude D\u2019Amours, and key departmental staff on this issue. We agreed to work together to continue to pressure the federal government to reverse their decision as well as to ask that the employees who are already here be allowed to renew their work permits and stay.
We know this is of big concern to our members and we will keep you updated on all new developments on the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCENTRAL CANADA UPDATE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ontario<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Manitoba<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWESTERN UPDATE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Consultations on the Canada-Alberta Job Grant Program<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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